Question
I have bunions, which are painful. The doctor said that as long as I wear sneakers I should be fine. However, I still have foot pain. I've finally decided to get surgery to correct it; meanwhile I'm tired of dealing with the pain.I am wondering what type of shoes are best. What types of shoe would you recommend?

Answer
Hello Dee

This is a definitely "been there" situation. I had terrible cracked feet and a sprained tendon. As you know, the pain is unreal! There were times where I thought I was going to loose my balance and fall down!

There are shoe companies that custom-make a foam insole that is molded to the shape of your foot. Look under arch supports on the internet. Then any tennis shoe will feel many times better for your feet. And because these foam insoles are made to the shape of your feet, you probably will continue to wear them after your surgery.

PS as to surgery, a good doctor will make sure you feel NO pain in your feet when giving you the anestasia. They will use creams to "deaden" the nerves BEFORE any needle touches your feet. SO, if they spray cold air, or tell you to "tighten up" for the needle, immediately STOP the procedure and get another doctor. The surgery, from the beginning to the end, should be something reasonable, NOT painful!

Before you do the surgery, if you can, for about two weeks, stand in your kitchen at your counter top, hands on the counter top, squatting down slowly and going up slowly. Do 10 times, do every day. Step back a bit, hands on the edge of the counter top. Put one foot back, bend the other knee a bit. Push forward with the foot set back, push BACK with the hands on the counter. Push and stop, 10 times, then reverse feet. FEEL the calve muscle in the outstretched leg and FEEL the muscles in the shoulders tighten up when you push. Push hard as you can each time. Do ever day also.

These stretching, aerobics, strength-building exercises will make your blood flow faster, make your circulation better, and will help you HEAL a lot faster afterwards. When you can AFTERWARDS, resume these exercises and you will fact a future of strong and flexible legs, ankles, and feet.

There is other exercises you can do when you get "back on your feet again." Write to me again when you are better.

For now, my thoughts will be with you and your pain. Hope everything goes very well for you and you become pain free!

Have a good weekend.