BFRunning O.K. as Long as You're Not Too Fat, Tall, or Muscular

Did the angle of your bunions improve? This blog post suggests that maybe the bony growth could improve over time. Though, I'm not sure if that process depends on just having better fitting footwear or going barefoot, or if the big toe also needs to be straightened first through exercises.
www.blog.healthyfootcoach.com/2012/11/big-bony-bunion-bump.html

For the past 3 years, I've been using toe separators to straighten out my bunions and also needing progressively wider shoes, as a result. I'm starting to be able to keep the big toes straight without toe separators. I've noticed that biomechanics feel different when walking, now. I can feel my feet rolling through the 1st and 2nd metarsals, and then through the toes. I'm not sure if this is what people without bunions feel when walking. Anyone?

After my big toes strengthen a bit more and feel comfortable in their newly straightened positions, I'm going to start back into some running. I think that my hiatus from running has been helpful, such that I'm not putting too much stress on my feet, while getting the big toes repositioned.


I"m not sure if the actual bone angles improved.
The right bunion was always the worst, and that looks better after almost 2 yrs as minimal/bf/no more "regular" shoes, but it may just be that I splay my toes more.
My feet overall are wider than they were (but that may just be that my tolerance for squishing my forefoot is greatly diminished).
The disfiguring is still quite pronounced and obviously different from a healthy foot shape. Who knows what havoc it causes to my gait.
However, like I said, I had been experiencing regular throbbing pain on the right side across the metatarsals and often found it impossible to run even in the widest shoes, especially after a day on my feet. That I don't miss and assume it won't be coming back even if the disfigurement is permanent.

I'd be curious to know if the toe separators can actually change the geometry. It might be worth a try for me.
 
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I'd be curious to know if the toe separators can actually change the geometry. It might be worth a try for me.
When I initially started out, I used one between each 1st and 2nd toe. After several weeks/months I added another one, either between the 1st and 2nd toes or 2nd and 3rd toes. It definitely helped for me, but the process was slow. Using too many at once would cut off the circulation or press on the nerves and my toes would fall asleep. Initially, I'd have to manually reposition them a bit sveral times a day.
www.cvs.com/shop/product-detail/CVS-Mineral-Oil-Gel-Toe-Spacers?skuId=687637

Eventually over 3 years, I got up to 7 of them, 1 between the 3rd and 4th toes, 3 between the 2nd and 3rd toes and 3 between the 1st and 2nd toes. I added the ones between the other toes to keep them balanced out, otherwise my smaller toes were getting pushed to the side. Close toed shoes are pretty much expected for men at my workplace, so my socks and shoes kept everything in place. I also ended up getting wider shoes every year.

Ultimately, I got tired of wearing them, as they were getting cumbersome. I also felt that once I had the big toe straight enough, that I was able to do the exercises to activate the abductor muscle. It seemed that getting the toe into position was key, before I could successfully do those exercises. Stretching and exercises are what I do now instead of using the toe separators.

In the beginning, I would also use this bunion splint at night. I thought that it helped, but eventually I'd have to take them off in the middle of the night, as the straps were cutting off my circulation. Also, I was just getting into running, and once my arches started to develop, the splints were putting pressure on the tops of my feet.
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KI65RO

Eventually, I stopped using them and started wearing YogaToes. You know how it says not to use them at night? Well... Anyway, those would eventually cut off circulation, too, so I just ended up kicking them off while sleeping.

This article tried the same things that I did for 3 months, which clearly wasn't enough time.
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03093640701669074

I'm curious to know... My foot without the bunion was always wider in comparision to the one with the bunion. Is that true for you, too?

Edit: Nevermind, as the bunion is straightening, the other toes seem to be fanning out more, too. I wonder if this will help my footstrike be more symmetrical.
 
You should write him a letter telling him how well you're doing. We need to let these doctors know how well we do without them!
Just make an appointment. All it costs you is a co-pay. You might just get your doctor thinking that maybe there is something to this.