EVE, MARCH 2001
'It's not something I ever felt I could talk about, but since mentioning I've had it done, I've found out how common it is; says Jane O'Sullivan, 44, a special needs teacher's assistant from north London. 'It's the word itself I don't like.'
OUT IN THE OPEN
And the word is... ssshh - bunions. And yes, they do sound like something your Great Aunt Mildred would have suffered from, not your gorgeous self.
'Now I can wear strappy sandals again. More importantly, l can go to my exercise classes, which I love, because the bunions don't make my feet hurt any more,' says Jane.
WHAT IS A BUNION?
A bunion forms when the big toe curves towards the others and the joint becomes swollen and tender. 'Surgery aims to return the architecture of the foot to normal,' says Mr Simon Moyes, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Devonshire and Wellington hospitals in London, who treated Jane.
'Bunion operations no longer involve long stays in hospital or wearing plaster casts for six weeks. You come into hospital for an overnight stay and go home the next day, wearing chunky dressings and surgical shoes. [Hmm, could set a trend.] We can even do both feet at once. Most of the pain has gone after 48 hours. After two weeks, the swelling has gone down and a smaller dressing is applied; says Moyes.
You can then wear your Prada trainers (or someone else's, as they'll need to be two sizes bigger than normal) for
a further four weeks. After which you are back in normal - or new - shoes.
HOW WAS IT FOR JANE?
'It was absolutely marvellous,' says Jane. 'When I woke up after the general anaesthetic I felt fine, ate a meal and went back to sleep.' Jane had both feet done at once.
'I kept my feet up as much as possible for the first day, but the stairs were too much, so I stayed upstairs. My feet ached the first night, but the next day the pain had nearly gone. It got better every day.'
And the cost? Jane's operation was covered by health insurance. Without insurance, the cost is about £1,800 for one bunion (ouch!) or £3,000 for both feet at once (bigger ouch!).
For more information, contact the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (020 7234 8620, www.feetforlife.org) or visit atlabouteve.co.uk
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Strong shoulder blade pain
By: redeye | 17-11-2007
i have a strong shoulder blade pain what is it from?
Charcot foot?
By: whedaada | 08-11-2007
Hi there I am A diabetic. I knocked my foot 5 days days ago. Since then it has become warm red swollen and extremely painfull. It's looks alot like the Charcot foot except for the excruciating pain. I've been for xrays and its not broken I am at my wits end . please help
Could I be pregnant?
By: snider_5 | 03-11-2007
My period comes every 4-5 months. My doctor tells me that as long as I dont go over 5 months that I am ok. I dont ovulate like a normal woman. My husband and I have been having intercourse for the past week and a half every other night. The past three days I have been having wierd stomach pain. It feels like my stomach is always growling. Ive been having a little back pain and Ive been very tired. I have taken a few pregnancy test but they are negative, how long after I have intercourse will my test show positive if I have infact concieved?
Right heal
By: frank101 | 28-10-2007
I cant walk on my right heal on my foot.
How to stop forehead buring pain
By: trinasexy | 14-10-2007
how to stop forehead buring pain
What's a good exercise to strengthen the knee?
By: muscleguy | 08-10-2007
What's a good exercise to strengthen the knee?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Health Articles
Stress - Driving Them Away
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
Chances are you will not be able to reduce your stress level overnight. Many of us have become quite used to stress on the road. However, by trying to make our trips as pleasant as possible, we can go a long way to lessening driving-induced stress.
Stress - Bring An End To The Meal-Time Rush
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
Even if you don't have children, meal time can be major stress time. Your mate might become irritable while awaiting dinner, and you might be grumpy as well. Hunger can be a powerful motivator, but it can also be the cause of major stress. Sometimes, you might find it difficult to concentrate as your stomach is growling.
Mind Over Matter At Vital Times
By: Catherine Harvey | 21/08/2008
A look at one mans survival with the power of the mind after a catastrophic personal injury.
Stress - Are Your Kids Stressing You Out
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
While you can guide your child, you cannot expect to control him or her, particularly when your child reaches the teenage years. Therefore, you have to learn to somehow manage the stress of parenthood before it gets the better of you.
At Home DNA Testing is Here
By: Jason Kay | 21/08/2008
You can't watch a crime drama on TV, or the news (think Anna Nicole Smith) for very long nowadays without hearing about DNA. DNA testing can tell who fathered a child. It can rescue an innocent inmate from prison, or prove the case against a criminal. DNA testing can give...
Fighting Cancer From Within
By: Catherine Harvey | 21/08/2008
A look at the research that is being carried out into the treatment of cancer and how new findings hope to secure a way of using the bodies own defence system to beat the killer disease.
The Health Benefits of Vitamin C
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
The C vitamin is also an antioxidant for the body and helps other vitamins and minerals to be absorbed better. Folic acid and iron, for example, need the C vitamin to maximise their usefulness. The more C vitamin that the body has, the better its defence against colds and other common ailments.
Massage Therapy - History and Development
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
During 500 BC-50 AD, the Greek and Romans used massage on Olympic athletes and to relieve neuralgia and epileptic seizures. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, incorporated massage in medicine. In 130 AD-201 AD, Galen, a Greek physician from the school of gladiators who were rubbed before fighting wrote a book on manual medicine.
More from Simon Moyes
The Dangers of Being a Jockey
By: Simon Moyes | 02/07/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Simon Moyes highlights the potential injuries likely to be suffered by jockeys.
Winding Down After the Ski Season
By: Simon Moyes | 02/07/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Simon Moyes explains that it's not just warming up that's vital for skiing and snowboarding – it's making sure you attend to any minor injuries or pains you experience afterwards, too.
Safer Skiing
By: Simon Moyes | 02/07/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Simon Moyes has this advice for preparing for your winter break...
Skiing Insurance: Small Print With Big Importance
By: Simon Moyes | 02/07/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Simon Moyes encourages those taking skiing / snowboarding holidays to make sure they're properly insured. It's all in the small print...
Shoulder Problems
By: Simon Moyes | 02/07/2007 | Health
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Simon Moyes looks at the anatomy of the shoulder and examines some common shoulder problems and their treatment.
Shouldering the Pain
By: Simon Moyes | 02/07/2007 | Health
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Simon Moyes explains some of the common causes of shoulder pain – and what you can do about it.
Skiing and Snowboarding: Keep in Shape
By: Simon Moyes | 02/07/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Those aches on the first couple of days of your ski holiday are a painful reminder that maybe you should have done more to get your body ready for a week in the mountains. And a lack of fitness can also lead to a serious injury if you haven't prepared properly. Harley Street Orthopaedic Surgeon SIMON MOYES begins a new series of health tips on how to get in shape for skiing. In future issues he will also give advice on what to do if you are unlucky enough to injure yourself.
The Current State of Ankle Arthroscopy
By: Simon Moyes | 02/07/2007 | Medicine
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Simon Moyes outlines the history of ankle surgery, and looks at some of the more recent developments.
Health 
