I received an email from a visitor who was asking about natural/home remedies for bunion pain. After doing some research online I have compiled a short list which may or may not help with your bunion pain.

Hi,

I’m wondering if you tried any home remedies for the bunion pain before opting for surgery? I really don’t want surgery just yet, and I’m wondering what would help my poor feet!

Thanks!
Liz

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I recently got an email asking if I’d used any over-the-counter bunion products to help with the pain before considering surgery. I thought that other people might be interested in my response.

Hi there,

I found your website and started reading it because I have bunions too. I don’t think mine are as bad as yours, but I may consider surgery down the road. Did you try any non-surgical methods for pain relief before considering surgery, and if so where did you get them?

Thanks,
Samantha

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The type of surgery I’m having is called an Austin Bunionectomy, where basically they shave off the bone of the bunion, cut the tendons and the bone in my first metatarsal, realign the bone, and hold it in place with a long pin. There are not too many good websites that I can find describing it, but a lovely (not graphic) youtube video here: Austin Bunionectomy Demonstration.

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Okay, so here’s what’s going on. I am a 23 year old nursing student from Vancouver, Canada, and I have bunions. Bad bunions. And after years of pain and suffering, and lots of money spent on custom orthotics, shoe inserts, splints, cushions, etc., the time has come to get them fixed with surgery. Well… just one of them for now.

For those who don’t know, a bunion, or “hallux valgus”, is “an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the base of the big toe (metatarsophalangeal joint). The big toe may turn in toward the second toe (angulation), and the tissues surrounding the joint may be swollen and tender. Today the term usually is used to refer to the pathological bump on the side of the great toe joint. The bump is the swollen bursal sac and/or an osseous (bony) deformity that has grown on the mesophalangeal joint (where the first metatarsal bone and hallux meet). ” That definition was taken from this Wikipedia article, which also explains more about formation, treatment, and why people have surgery done on them, which can be summed up in one word: pain!

In three weeks I am having surgery on my left bunion, and then after that, I get to spend the next 8+ weeks on my couch unable to walk. I’m going to be doped up on some awesome painkillers, while simultaneously learning several new hobbies such as knitting and making cute stuffed animals, as well as watching tons of movies and playing lots of games on my new Wii (but at the same time, will be temporarily saying goodbye to Wii Fit!).

But what could make all of this even more fun? Blogging about it, of course! So I welcome you to the Bunion Chronicles.

This is how my feet look now! Ouchies!