My big toes have been gradually migrating outwards for many years, not due to the shoes I wore (99.99% normal male shoes), but a condition I inherited from my mother. Her toes were all over the place and caused her a lot of discomfort in her later years, so I resolved not to let mine get that bad before seeking medical help. I didn’t seek that help until I retired three years ago (at 59) because I knew I’d need many months on crutches, and be unable to do my job; and being self employed, no work = no money.
My surgeon agreed that an operation was necessary on each foot to correct this condition, where he would cut the appropriate bones and re-attach them at different angles. He also told me I’d need as much as 6 months before the bones would heal sufficiently to resume any activity which put high stress on the re-joined bones. During the initial consultation, he remarked that the condition, known as Hallux Valgus or bunions (though technically, a bunion is the protective lump that forms around the distorted joint), was unusual in men, being largely caused by long term wearing of high heels with pointed shoes, particularly if they are a size too small. This jams the toes together and puts sideways pressure on the big toe. Up to this point, I only had one pair of heels, 3.5” stiletto strappy sandals, and due to my wife’s disapproval of me wearing any female items, I wore them very infrequently; they were too small and hurt after a short while, but did not put pressure on my big toes. I had worn 5” heels once, during a 4 hour professional “make-over” session, without any pain or other adverse effects. I was surprised how quickly I adapted to walking in them (though not very elegantly) and was very excited by the feelings associated with wearing them. I desperately wanted to get some of my own 5” shoes and boots of the right size.
The operations were successful, my big toes are much straighter, but are still too close to my other toes so that my second toes sit on top of the gap between my big toes and third toes, unless I push them into the gap. My right toe also points down about 15 degrees, and I can not curl it up very far, but having recently bought a pair of 5” sandals, I’m happy that I can wear them for a few hours without any apparent problems. Being sandals, I can manipulate my toes to the correct positions after putting them on. I tried pumps on in the shop, but they were either so loose that I couldn’t keep them on my feet, or so tight I couldn’t get my big toe in them without sideways pressure on the repaired joints. Size UK11 (I’m a size 9 usually) boots with rounded toes were comfortable, but were a bit loose on my feet, even when the laces were as tight as they would go, but walking in them seemed to be OK.
The purpose of my post is really to ask if any others (male or female) have had similar experiences. Have any of you had hallux valgus corrections, and did you experience any problems wearing high heels afterwards? Have any of you got distorted big toes or bunions now, and do you think it is related to wearing high heels? Any information may help me and others to avoid potential future problems.
Thanks in advance for your input.
T
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Dragster
My big toes have been gradually migrating outwards for many years, not due to the shoes I wore (99.99% normal male shoes), but a condition I inherited from my mother. Her toes were all over the place and caused her a lot of discomfort in her later years, so I resolved not to let mine get that bad before seeking medical help. I didn’t seek that help until I retired three years ago (at 59) because I knew I’d need many months on crutches, and be unable to do my job; and being self employed, no work = no money. My surgeon agreed that an operation was necessary on each foot to correct this condition, where he would cut the appropriate bones and re-attach them at different angles. He also told me I’d need as much as 6 months before the bones would heal sufficiently to resume any activity which put high stress on the re-joined bones. During the initial consultation, he remarked that the condition, known as Hallux Valgus or bunions (though technically, a bunion is the protective lump that forms around the distorted joint), was unusual in men, being largely caused by long term wearing of high heels with pointed shoes, particularly if they are a size too small. This jams the toes together and puts sideways pressure on the big toe. Up to this point, I only had one pair of heels, 3.5” stiletto strappy sandals, and due to my wife’s disapproval of me wearing any female items, I wore them very infrequently; they were too small and hurt after a short while, but did not put pressure on my big toes. I had worn 5” heels once, during a 4 hour professional “make-over” session, without any pain or other adverse effects. I was surprised how quickly I adapted to walking in them (though not very elegantly) and was very excited by the feelings associated with wearing them. I desperately wanted to get some of my own 5” shoes and boots of the right size. The operations were successful, my big toes are much straighter, but are still too close to my other toes so that my second toes sit on top of the gap between my big toes and third toes, unless I push them into the gap. My right toe also points down about 15 degrees, and I can not curl it up very far, but having recently bought a pair of 5” sandals, I’m happy that I can wear them for a few hours without any apparent problems. Being sandals, I can manipulate my toes to the correct positions after putting them on. I tried pumps on in the shop, but they were either so loose that I couldn’t keep them on my feet, or so tight I couldn’t get my big toe in them without sideways pressure on the repaired joints. Size UK11 (I’m a size 9 usually) boots with rounded toes were comfortable, but were a bit loose on my feet, even when the laces were as tight as they would go, but walking in them seemed to be OK. The purpose of my post is really to ask if any others (male or female) have had similar experiences. Have any of you had hallux valgus corrections, and did you experience any problems wearing high heels afterwards? Have any of you got distorted big toes or bunions now, and do you think it is related to wearing high heels? Any information may help me and others to avoid potential future problems. Thanks in advance for your input. T
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