Bunions and Orthotics: The Truth…
Orthotics and insoles are sometimes thrown up as a solution to having bunions. Well they’re not.
I have a very good friend that is a leading expert in the field of orthotics and he told me the truth.
Orthotics don’t cure bunions. They don’t fix bunions. The don’t straighten bunions.
Orthotics have 2 goals when used on a patient with bunions.
- They help SLOW DOWN the rate at which bunions progress…but they still progress
- They will help with SOME pain reduction but this is due to helping stabilizing the foot during push off when we walk. I’m not sure how this works but he assures me this is the case.
What he says is if you want to spend up to $400 for a bit of pain relief and have to wear cluncky shoes…go right ahead.
Just don’t let yourself be ’sold’ orthotics on the promise that they will ‘cure’ your bunions. Too many women fall for that…I was lucky…I had good inside information.
Bunion Surgery is as painful as it sounds
I’ve been asked many time why I don’t just go and have bunion surgery…and get those ugly ‘bumps’ taken off. Trust me…if it was that simple I would…in a heart beat. Alsa, it is never that easy when it comes to surgery and it’s the same with bunion surgery.
The surgery is just the beginning.
I’ve been to an Orthopedic surgeon and a podiatric surgeon and both were very professional and explained all the pro’s and all the con’s to me.
It boils down to the simple fact that I will need at least 3 months of my life to be back on my feet without crutches and walking pain free…PER FOOT.
For obvious reasons they don’t do both feet at the same time.
I just don’t have the time. My work schedule and family life just won’t allow it. I could be selfish and just do it but that just isn’t me.
The succes rate seems high to me but the surgeons all said that there is a decent risk that the bunions will return after the surgery. At least they’ve been up front and honest.
So, no, I can’t just get them ‘taken off’. You can always tell that the person asking has never been in this situation. Painful bunions and nowhere to go…just grin and bear it…like alot of things in life.
Bunion Surgery Cost Affordable Option?
Bunion Surgery Cost Affordable Option?
Is your bunion only getting worse, bringing on more and more pain by the year? If so, then bunion surgery may be an option you could consider. Whether or not you can afford the bunion surgery cost is another matter.
How much you surgery will cost depends partly on how bad your particular situation is and exactly what needs to be done. Simply removing the bump may be offered at lower cost by some surgeons, but the chances are high that the bunion will simply come back, sometimes within a few months.
The best surgery will correct the position of your big toe as well so that the problem is less likely to reoccur. In general, bunion surgery cost is around $4,000, varying of course by surgeon. While it may be tempting to cut costs and just go with the cheapest surgeon you find, make sure they are accredited and have a solid history of doing this surgery. A botched job will only make things worse.
The good news is many insurance programs will cover most of the bunion surgery cost. You may have to pay a deductible, but using your insurance could enable you to afford a more experienced surgeon. This in turn will increase the chances of you being happy with the results.
If you are concerned with scarring from the incisions of the surgery, you may want to consider having a cosmetic surgeon come into the operating room and do some cosmetic touch ups as well. Of course, this adds considerably to the total bunion surgery cost so make sure you know ahead of time whether you can afford this or not.