Shoe surgery to make room for bunions
November 14, 2022 4:16 AM
I have very large bunions. No non-sandal shoes fit me without pain. Is it possible to have an existing pair of shoes customized to accommodate this?
I have wide male feet (my wife calls them "bear slabs"). My bunions are very large, and no shoe is actually comfortable, but I'm not at the point where I'm considering surgery yet. I've been unable to find shoes that meet my requirements (non-leather, wide, wide toe box). I have purchased many pairs of shoes over the years, and some meet most requirements. The problem is always the bunion area. I have bunion stretchers, but they're not terribly effective on synthetic material.
So I was thinking - can a cobbler just cut out the bunion area of the shoe and sew in something else? Maybe some stretchy material? At this point, I don't care if it looks terrible. I just want to be able to hike and generally walk again without being in tons of pain the next day. My fantasy is to have a pair of solid hiking shoes with a somewhat stretchy material that goes over the bunions.
My next options will be surgery (really would rather avoid it. One of my family members had bunion surgery 10 years ago, and has needed to walk with a cane ever since), or looking for used leather shoes (I really, really don't want to have to do this if I can help it).
I have wide male feet (my wife calls them "bear slabs"). My bunions are very large, and no shoe is actually comfortable, but I'm not at the point where I'm considering surgery yet. I've been unable to find shoes that meet my requirements (non-leather, wide, wide toe box). I have purchased many pairs of shoes over the years, and some meet most requirements. The problem is always the bunion area. I have bunion stretchers, but they're not terribly effective on synthetic material.
So I was thinking - can a cobbler just cut out the bunion area of the shoe and sew in something else? Maybe some stretchy material? At this point, I don't care if it looks terrible. I just want to be able to hike and generally walk again without being in tons of pain the next day. My fantasy is to have a pair of solid hiking shoes with a somewhat stretchy material that goes over the bunions.
My next options will be surgery (really would rather avoid it. One of my family members had bunion surgery 10 years ago, and has needed to walk with a cane ever since), or looking for used leather shoes (I really, really don't want to have to do this if I can help it).
Why not get shoes custom made from the get go? The Drifter Leather does this and is very reasonable. You send a tracing of your foot and they build the shoe accordingly, from scratch. "Please, contact us for a quote if you require further customization due to bunions..."
posted by dobbs at 6:11 AM on November 14, 2022
posted by dobbs at 6:11 AM on November 14, 2022
Do you have a podiatrist, or an old-school shoe store nearby? I was buying longer and longer shoes trying to get enough room for my toes (sandals for life, btw) but it was really mainly the width. I went to the "old man" shoe store and they had shoe trees with nubbins to stretch the specific part of your toe box that was causing pain.
And "bunion stretchers" are a thing, but I couldn't predict whether they'd satisfy your ursine requirements. https://www.shoecaresupplies.com/Bunion_Toe_Box_Stretcher_p/bunion-toe-box-stretcher.htm <-- just an example, I don't have a recommendation on brands or anything.
posted by adekllny at 6:17 AM on November 14, 2022
And "bunion stretchers" are a thing, but I couldn't predict whether they'd satisfy your ursine requirements. https://www.shoecaresupplies.com/Bunion_Toe_Box_Stretcher_p/bunion-toe-box-stretcher.htm <-- just an example, I don't have a recommendation on brands or anything.
posted by adekllny at 6:17 AM on November 14, 2022
Back when ski boots were made of leather, cobblers in skiing regions used to have a ball-and-ring press (sometimes called Bunion Pliers, though the ones for ski boots were mounted and foot operated) that could press out a "dimple" from the inside of the boot to relieve exactly that. I've taken several pairs of leather hiking boots to them over the years (decades!) to be pressed out. It may take some phoning to locate someone who has one, but it does exist. Amazon even sells several, configured as long handled pliers. Search for "Ball & Ring Shoe Stretcher".
posted by TruncatedTiller at 6:20 AM on November 14, 2022
posted by TruncatedTiller at 6:20 AM on November 14, 2022
OP has expressed a very strong preference against leather.
If you have any cobblers nearby, I'd start by taking as many different pairs of your shoes to them as you've got and asking them if they think they can work with any of them. A good cobbler might have advice about what features and materials make that sort of adjustment possible or impossible.
Also, have you consulted any podiatrists about possible shoe modifications?
If you're okay with barefoot/minimalist soles, you might try out something like the Vibram Furoshiki shoes where the top is stretchy and you can control how tightly it wraps around the foot. (I've never tried them personally, just saw a review about them being useful for this.)
posted by trig at 6:43 AM on November 14, 2022
If you have any cobblers nearby, I'd start by taking as many different pairs of your shoes to them as you've got and asking them if they think they can work with any of them. A good cobbler might have advice about what features and materials make that sort of adjustment possible or impossible.
Also, have you consulted any podiatrists about possible shoe modifications?
If you're okay with barefoot/minimalist soles, you might try out something like the Vibram Furoshiki shoes where the top is stretchy and you can control how tightly it wraps around the foot. (I've never tried them personally, just saw a review about them being useful for this.)
posted by trig at 6:43 AM on November 14, 2022
When you are ready for surgery, find someone who does Lapiplasty. It is a new procedure that realigns your bones instead of just shaving off the side when they're misaligned, so it's permanent.
In the meantime, I like to wear strappy Tevas with merino wool socks on day hikes. If you have an REI near you, maybe try some different brands to see where their straps fall. I'd even check the women's wide-width selection - they often have straps farther up the toe.
posted by headnsouth at 7:27 AM on November 14, 2022
In the meantime, I like to wear strappy Tevas with merino wool socks on day hikes. If you have an REI near you, maybe try some different brands to see where their straps fall. I'd even check the women's wide-width selection - they often have straps farther up the toe.
posted by headnsouth at 7:27 AM on November 14, 2022
Allbirds are wool sneakers that are really comfy and flexible, and they stretch to fit many foot shapes. I have a pair and it's shocking how comfy and light they are.
I see a lot of ads for Vessis - waterproof fabric shoes. I have never tried them, but they look pretty good.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:13 AM on November 14, 2022
I see a lot of ads for Vessis - waterproof fabric shoes. I have never tried them, but they look pretty good.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:13 AM on November 14, 2022
I too have bunions that are not bad enough for surgery but make shoes annoying. I second the vote for knitted sneakers. Note that some of the options in that search still have leather panels along the toes, but there are plenty that are just knit. I am partial to Brooks Adrenaline line.
posted by hydropsyche at 9:33 AM on November 14, 2022
posted by hydropsyche at 9:33 AM on November 14, 2022
Minimalist shoe enthusiast anya has a shoe finder that allows you to specify your needs (toe box shape, toe box width, height of foot, thickness of sole, type and size of shoe) and recommends retailers that offer those shoes. It doesn't allow you to select for materials, so you may still need to wade through some leather, but it should get you damn close. Many of the shoes listed have detailed reviews by the site owner and sometimes come with a discount code, also!
posted by kaelynski at 10:11 AM on November 14, 2022
posted by kaelynski at 10:11 AM on November 14, 2022
I concur that knit sneakers are worth trying. Sketchers is another brand that makes them.
Drew shoes might also have some suitable options.
Crocs can be stretched in a DIY fashion.
I think it's worth calling around to see if a cobbler is willing to take on the challenge. If not, someone who makes Cosplay or does stagecraft is probably the right sort of crafty.
posted by oceano at 6:03 PM on November 14, 2022
Drew shoes might also have some suitable options.
Crocs can be stretched in a DIY fashion.
I think it's worth calling around to see if a cobbler is willing to take on the challenge. If not, someone who makes Cosplay or does stagecraft is probably the right sort of crafty.
posted by oceano at 6:03 PM on November 14, 2022
I was plagued by bunion pain (which expensive orthodics did nothing for) until (in desperation) I bought a pair of smartfeet shoe inserts, and cut out a long/thin divot under my big toe. This allows the toe to drop down, and hold it just a smidge away from the rest of the toes, and has alleviated the pain to the extent that I was able to train for and run a marathon (really!). I have these inserts in all of my shoes now, and have no bunion pain.
posted by iiniisfree at 2:36 PM on November 15, 2022
posted by iiniisfree at 2:36 PM on November 15, 2022
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posted by showbiz_liz at 6:00 AM on November 14, 2022