[pct-l] Backpacking with a bunion info

[Janet Grossman]

Mary,
I had 3 surgeries as a child to try to fix the one hammer toe (genetic) that was going to cause a bunion. Even though the 3rd surgery finally made the toe stay down, I still got a bunion despite never having worn high heels or pointy toes in my life. I chose the surgery, had it in January 2006 so I'd have over a full year to heal before my planned PCT thru-hike in 2007. I led my first (rather short & easy) post-surgery dayhike 8 weeks later, having seen my podiatrist the previous day and been cleared to do so. From there on I did increasingly longer and harder hikes until I started serious training for my thru. Although I dropped out at Big Bear due to incapacitating blisters all over both feet in '07, the former bunion was never a problem at all, and has not been for any of my section hikes since, though I continue to get (milder) blisters. It's now 4 years after surgery, I'm 52, and there's no sign of my bunion returning. Very occasionally I feel a slight twinge where the metal screws are in my foot, but nothing even close to discomfort, much less pain. I do wear orthotics and continue to experiment with different socks and shoes. I'm by no means trying to persuade you to do the surgery, but for me it was a good decision to have it and it really didn't interfere with my life too much. The biggest issue with the surgery was really that I couldn't walk to work for 3 or 4 weeks, had to borrow a car and drive the silly 2 miles each way.
Janet 

Date: Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:54:57 -0800
From: Mary Kwart <mkwart at gci.net>
Subject: [pct-l] Backpacking with a bunion info
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID: <f6ccaaab14f6.4b464a21 at gci.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

To all of you old hikers out there (particularly women):

I have developed a bunion on my right foot. I use orthotics. it doesn't stop me from backpacking and it causes no pain to backpack, but it seems to be getting worse (bigger). Any experience with this? I've ruled out surgery because of the prolonged recovery and I have heard that that the bunion comes back. I guess I am looking for non surgical alternatives to treat this--I've used orthotics and Yoga toes to stretch out my toes, but to no avail.

Thanks.

Fireweed