Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (2024)

Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (1)

Petra Star: Cream Leather- Shoes after Bunion Surgery

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Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (2)

What Shoes Can I Wear After Bunion Surgery?


If you have recently had a bunionectomy, you may be wondering what are good shoes to wear after bunion surgery. It may seem like there is a long road to recovery after surgery, but you can minimise the pain and discomfort by wearing the best shoes after bunion surgery.

These are our top tips to finding the best shoes after bunion surgery:

  1. Wear Supportive Shoes after Bunion Surgery
  2. Choose Leather Shoes after Bunion Surgery
  3. Look for Shoes with a Wide Toe Box
  4. Avoid High Heels
  5. Wear Shoes which prevent Bunion Re-Occurrence

Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (3)

Sprint Navy Leather - Best Shoes after Bunion Surgery


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1. Wear Supportive Shoes after Bunion Surgery

The best shoes after bunion surgery will have substantial support for your entire foot, paying close attention to your big toe. Look for shoes which have a shock resistant sole. This kind of shock absorption is important because it reduces the impact of hitting your foot against the ground when you walk.

Good shoes after bunion surgery also have heel support and arch support. They will hold your foot in the correct position and improve your balance and posture. They will also help distribute pressure evenly across your foot and prevent straining your forefoot.

It is very important to wear supportive shoes after bunion surgery to decrease the chances of damaging your big toe joint and improve the motion of the joint.

2. Choose Leather Shoes after Bunion Surgery

After a bunionectomy, it is important to wear shoes which are made from a flexible material which can accommodate any swelling.

We would recommend wearing leather shoes after bunion surgery. Leather is soft, breathable, flexible, and durable. During the warmer months of the year, leather shoes will prevent your feet from rubbing too.

Shoes after bunion surgery need to be soft and you certainly do not want any rubbing across that big toe joint.

Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (4)

Hampton: Natural Snake - Leather Shoes for Bunion Surgery

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3. Look for Shoes with a Wide Toe Box

The best shoes to wear after bunion surgery have a deep and wide toe-box. The toe-box is the area at the front of the shoe, where your inflamed big toe joint is. After a bunionectomy, you need to let your feet breathe. The best shoes after bunion surgery will not constrict your toes or put pressure on the big toe joint or rub in any way.

You may also want to look for shoes with a rounded toe-shape (rather than a pointed toe). Rounded toe-shapes are generally more accommodating and less likely to cause any discomfort around the bunion area.

4.Avoid High Heels

The best shoes after bunion surgery tend to be flat shoes or low heels. If you wear a very high heeled shoe after bunion surgery, you risk putting excessive pressure on the front of your foot and the recently operated big toe joint.

By wearing a lower shoe after bunion surgery, your weight is more evenly distributed across the foot and less likely to cause you any pain.

If you need to wear heeled shoes after bunion surgery, we would recommend avoiding any heels higher than 3 inches. Please follow this link to view our collection of comfortable mid heeled shoes to wear after bunion surgeryand comfortable low heels.

If you are determined to wear high heels, as this may be one of the reasons why you decided to undergo the bunionectomy, then fear not! You will soon be able to wear high heels! You just need to wait a few months until your big toe joints has healed. Some surgeons advise that patients should wait at least six months before wearing high heels after bunion surgery. It is always advisable to contact your doctor for medical advice.

To view our collection of comfortable high heels, click here!

Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (5)

Ruby: Silver Leather- Heeled Shoes after Bunion Surgery

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5. Wear Shoes which Prevent Bunion Re-Occurrence

The best shoes after bunion surgery will take into consideration the fact that you don’t want your bunions to grow back! Unfortunately not all bunion operations are successful and they can grow back. Bunion re-occurrence is common so to avoid this, look for shoes which prevent the formation of bunions.

The best shoes to prevent bunions after surgery will have a deep and wide toe-box and arch support. Shoes with arch support hold your foot in the correct position and prevent over-pronation. Pronation is the inward rolling of your foot as you walk, and this type of biomechanics is a key contributing factor to bunion formation.

Therefore we would recommend wearing practical shoes after bunion surgery so that you can keep your feet looking the way you want them to!

Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (6)

Trinity: Bronze Leather - Recovery Shoes for Bunions

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How Long AfterBunion Surgery Can I Wear Normal Shoes?

The recovery period after bunion surgery can vary between individuals. You may have your stitches removed after a couple of weeks. The average patient may spend approximately six weeks wearing a post-operative shoe or using crutches. It is really important to not walk around the house barefoot during this time.

After this approximate 6-week period of wearing a post-operative shoe, you should be able to wear normal shoes again, including trainers (we would not recommend wearing heels just yet). Some patients will be able to wear dress shoes after ten weeks. Others may take longer. There is no need to worry if your recovery time is slower than other people.Bunion surgery can take up to a year to fully recover from.

If you want to read more about the alternatives to bunion surgery, click here: 10 Best Ways to Treat Bunions without Surgery.

Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (7)

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Will My Shoe Size Change After Bunion Surgery?

It is unlikely that your shoe size will change after bunion surgery. If your bunions were very large, you may have been buying shoes which are larger than your usual size, just so that they could accommodate the bunion area. If this sounds like you, then remember to size down to the shoe size you used to buy before your bunions started to grow!

All Sole Bliss shoes are designed with a deep and wide toe-box and a stretch panel to accommodate bunions. We have ensured that your feet have plenty of space across the front of the shoe, whilst fitting neatly at the back. You don't need to size up to accommodate your bunions or wide feet! Read more about How Our Shoes Work here.

Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (8)

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To Summarise…

It is very important to wear comfortable, supportive recovery shoes after bunion surgery. It may seem like a long road to recovery but with the right footwear, you can keep your feet happy and pain-free!

To discover our full collection of bunion-friendly shoes and shoes after bunion surgery, click here.

Sole Bliss Customers with Bunion Surgery

For those struggling to findthebest shoes for bunionsurgery, discovering the right product is a game-changer for comfort and relief. Sole Bliss shoes are tailored to tackle the challenges linked to foot conditions likebunions and bunion surgery offering triple layer cushioning and our signature bunion bed stretch panel for difficult joints.

Rather than just taking our word for it,thisbunioncustomer reviewbelow shares a first hand experience, showcasing the transformative impact of Sole Bliss shoes for plantar fasciitis.

Last year I had bunion surgery on one of my feet (the other foot’s surgery is imminent) and I’ve never found comfortable footwear until I was introduced to Sole Bliss. Not only are my Star trainers so comfortable, I’ve also had many comments how nice they look. The service from start to finish has been top notch and I’m now about to purchase my second pair!

https://reviews.io/company-review/store/sole-bliss/18554410

Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery (2024)

FAQs

Shoes to Wear After Bunion Surgery? ›

Proper Footwear for Post-Surgery Recovery

What kind of shoes are best after bunion surgery? ›

The best shoes after bunion surgery tend to be flat shoes or low heels. If you wear a very high heeled shoe after bunion surgery, you risk putting excessive pressure on the front of your foot and the recently operated big toe joint.

How long do you have to wear a special shoe after bunion surgery? ›

Your Recovery

You may have some minor pain and swelling that lasts as long as 6 months to a year. You won't be able to put weight on your foot at first. You will need to wear a cast or a special type of shoe to protect your toe and to keep it in the right position for at least 3 to 6 weeks.

What are the must haves for bunion surgery recovery? ›

What Items Do I Need to Recover From Bunion Surgery
  • 3) Cast protector or bag to keep foot dry in shower (can be provided by Dr. ...
  • 4) Two pillows to elevate surgical foot when at rest and sleeping.
  • 5) Crutches or walker, knee scooter is optional but recommended to use for longer distances, and ease of use.
Aug 18, 2020

What support is needed after bunion surgery? ›

It's important to rest with your foot up for the first couple of weeks because this will help to reduce any swelling. You'll usually have dressings and a bandage on your foot after bunion surgery. In some cases, you may need to wear a surgical (post-operative) shoe, a cast or a boot.

Are Hoka shoes good after bunion surgery? ›

For closed in shoes, Dr Kim recommend HOKA One One. A good footwear store, such as Footmaster or Sole Integrity should have the correct shoe for those patients recovering from bunion surgery.

Will my foot ever be the same after bunion surgery? ›

And once post-surgery swelling has gone down, toes often look more normal than they did before. Here's an example of what a foot typically looks like after bunion surgery. The bunion will be greatly reduced in size, so your foot will likely look the way it did before the bunion developed.

How long will my foot be stiff after bunion surgery? ›

The duration of pain after bunion surgery can vary from person to person. Generally, the initial postoperative pain and discomfort after surgery can last for several weeks to a few months. During this time, you may experience swelling, bruising, tenderness, and limited mobility in the foot.

What happens if I accidentally put weight on my foot after bunion surgery? ›

Putting any weight on an operated foot or ankle can damage the repair that's been done. Bones need time to heal. Plates or screws that may have been added during surgery need the bones to heal around them. Adding weight too soon can interrupt this important internal healing process.

Are Crocs a good shoe after bunion surgery? ›

Crocs are considered to be a therapeutic shoe because they offer long-term relief of foot pain after surgery. Patients are encouraged to wear crocs after surgery especially when the feet have swollen.

Do you limp after bunion surgery? ›

When your surgeon allows you to begin putting weight on your foot, your physical therapist will help you regain a normal walking pattern, or gait. It is not uncommon to limp after a bunion surgery or to develop a tendency to roll your foot outward in an effort to avoid rolling off the affected big toe.

Do you need physical therapy after a Bunionectomy? ›

Physical Therapy After Your Bunion Surgery

A comprehensive, patient-specific physical therapy treatment program “is beneficial in maximizing outcomes of hallux valgus correction and improving overall patient satisfaction.”

Can you feel the screws after bunion surgery? ›

Screws used in minimally invasive bunions surgery are not placed near the joint, they just hold the bunion correction. Patients will not be able to feel the screws as they are placed within the bone. Screws are titanium alloy which are inert to the human body in the vast majority of cases.

Do I need orthotics after bunion surgery? ›

Any situation in which there is a change in the function of a joint should warrant post-op orthoses, according to Dr. Levine. Whether it is the first MPJ following a bunionectomy or more complicated midfoot or hindfoot procedures, he notes orthotic devices “play an integral role in the care of the patient.” As Dr.

Should I wiggle my toes after bunion surgery? ›

Operation to two weeks

You should wear the postoperative shoe, day and night. You can wiggle the toes, but the aim of this fortnight is to rest and get the skin wounds soundly healed. If you are sitting raise the foot on a chair, or by sitting across a sofa – this will reduce the swelling.

How long does it take to walk normally after bunion surgery? ›

1 to 6 weeks: Begin weight bearing in a tall boot to tolerance. The amount of time and activity level should increase each week as you begin physical therapy. 6 to 10 weeks: You can usually return to a quality running shoe and increasing walking activities.

What type of shoes is better for a person with bunions? ›

For people with bunions, shoes with wide toe boxes, stretchy materials and strong arch support are best to reduce friction and irritation. Look for wide options to accommodate your bunion and avoid putting pressure on the toe joints.

Are Birkenstocks good post bunion surgery? ›

Birkenstock sandals, slippers with an arch support or even an indoor running shoe are great to support your natural arch.

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