How to Wear Shoes After Bunion Surgery

A bunion is a deformity of the big toe that is mainly caused by wearing shoes that are too tight or not properly fitted. Though bunions are extremely painful, you can sometimes correct the problem by changing the way you choose your shoes. If you can't correct the problem on your own and can't tolerate the pain, an orthopedic surgeon can perform out-patient surgery on the bunion. After the surgery, it is important that you wear the proper shoes to speed up the healing process and prevent the bunion from coming back.

Refrain from wearing any type of shoe until the dressing or surgical shoe has been removed. You will probably wear the dressing or surgical shoe for two to three weeks after the bunion surgery. Your doctor will tell you exactly how long.

When you start wearing shoes again, they should have a wide toe box (the part of the shoe that covers the toes). Shoes with a narrow toe box can cause squeezing and irritation to the toe that has been operated on.

Choose a shoe with a soft leather upper to wear until your toe has been completely healed. This could be an athletic shoe or an oxford-type shoe.

Refrain from wearing sandals and other types of thin-soled shoes. Select a shoe with a sole made of a strong supportive material, such as rubber, to prevent refracturing of the bone. The supportive sole can also aid in reducing swelling.

Avoid wearing high heels and other fashion types of shoes until you have fully recovered from the surgery. These types of shoes can place extra strain on your foot that may result in increased swelling and stiffness.

After you have healed, wear shoes that have been properly fitted to your feet. This will help prevent a bunion from coming back. One of your feet may be larger than the other one, so have both feet measured. If your feet are two different sizes, you will need to purchase two pairs of shoes.