<p>I think they are genetic…I always wore high heels and squashed my feet into things that I hoped would stretch…and I don’t have bunions…have plenty of other things you mentioned as indignities though…so all is not well in this postmenopausal person!</p>
<p>I had them on both feet as a teen and had surgery on my right foot at 17. The second one was done at around 40. I also have had hammer toes dice I was young- one has been fixed but the other is really bad now. My feet have never been cute…</p>
<p>Until the advent of bunions, I had pretty feet–second toe longer than the big toe, which some people find creepy, but other than that, nicely formed, nice-shaped toenails, etc. I’m not sure I have anything left that I would call “pretty”. But these days I just aim for “acceptable”–so long as I’m not scaring little kids in the supermarket, I feel like I’m doing okay. (Forgot to add to my list of indignities–receding gums that make my already large teeth look huge.)</p>
<p>"… not sure I have anything left that I would call “pretty”</p>
<p>Your soul and heart! :)</p>
<p>Momma, I’ve had bunions for decades and now also have a hammer toe. When I go shoe shopping, I can’t get my feet into 90% of the shoes I like, and if I can, I can’t take more than a few steps in 90% of them. So finding that one pair of shoes in a hundred takes a lot of work! Every now and then I strike it lucky at DSW but they don’t always have wide sizes. I’ve also had luck at Payless. Kohl’s - iffy. After a while you can tell at a glance which shoes are hopeless - like those where there’s a strap or edge that would pull across the bunion. You want something smooth and stretchy over that area. I suggest trying the wide size and using back-of-heel cushions. You can also get stretching spray to use on inside of the shoe where the bunion hits - it helps some.</p>
<p>I knew someone who had a bunionectomy and said it was so bad that she would never do the other foot. I’m currently recovering from a broken ankle (three breaks, screws, plates, et al). When the surgeon came to see me in pre-op, he looked at my foot and told me I should get my bunion fixed soon. I told him to go ahead - he laughed and said, different part of the foot. Too bad because after this experience, I don’t think I’ll ever do the bunions. And the only shoes I can wear now are my widest sneakers, espadrilles, and one pair of wedges.</p>
<p>I’ve had bunions for many years and was not much of a high heel wearer. I’ve found some really comfortable shoes from Cole Haan. Sometimes I have to go a half size up.</p>
<p>Here’s one style with a Nike heel: <a href=“Item No Longer Available | See Our Other Picks for You”>Item No Longer Available | See Our Other Picks for You;
<p>MommaJ, I’m so glad you started this thread. I’ve been thinking about starting the exact same one but thought it might creep people out. Glad (???) – maybe “comforted” is a better word! – to hear so many of us have this problem.</p>
<p>My bunion is only on my right foot and it’s not terribly large, as I can wear ordinary shoes but need to select them with care. It is absolutely genetic. I haven’t worn heels for more than an hour or two at a time since at least 20 years ago. And 20 years ago I had no problems at all – except that heels hurt the ball of my foot after a few hours, so I stopped wearing them.</p>
<p>My bunion doesn’t hurt except when a shoe hits it wrong, and then it’s just downright annoying. </p>
<p>But it sure looks icky.</p>
<p>I have narrow heels as well and find that shoes with sling backs help keep my heel from sliding out. You have my sympathy. I have a horrible time finding shoes. If I had to fit narrow heels AND bunions I don’t know what I would do.</p>
<p>Going to Payless tomorrow lol… I just got a pair of Sketcher go walk shoes, not the most fashionable but really really comfortable, they are really stretchy so they would be perfect with bunions. I also think that my TOMS are super comfortable.</p>
<p>My 17 yo just had bunion surgery over the summer, and except for pictures at prom and homecoming, has never worn high heels. </p>
<p>I swear what exacerbated it was actually having to wear sperry’s for school. They are completely awful for people with high arches. I even brought it up to the school and got dead silence in response. </p>
<p>The one thing I can say is it’s worth spending the money for quality shoes. Payless generally is cheaply made and none of us make it more than a few hours in those shoes.</p>
<p>For her sandals and flip flops are the most comfortable. I have no idea what shoes she’ll wear once her foot swelling goes down. Right now she’s horrified at having to wear sneakers to school but it’s doctors orders and foot can’t fit in anything else.</p>
<p>The school makes the kids wear Sperry’s?</p>
<p>I started wearing wide shoes in my 30s, but since developing bunions only WW/XW/EE shoes are tolerable. Generally, if the shoe isn’t quite wide enough, even if the stated width is WW, I go up one size and compensate somewhat with an insert. For heel slippage, I use back of heel cushions. Walgreens sells some, made in the USA, for <$6.</p>
<p>My podiatrist recently suggested trying men’s athletic shoes; it felt like salt poured on a wound when she said that. I make shoe purchasing more difficult because I insist on avoiding Chinese made shoes. If that’s not an issue for you, then you’ll find many more options. My non-sneakers are mostly from Munro American, but nearly all require additional support. Unfortunately, their toe boxes aren’t deep enough for my Rx orthotics.</p>
<p>I had bunion surgery on both feet years ago and have regretted it even since. Two bunions are back and the pain has been as bad, if not worse, in the last year.</p>