Laura's Story

Everyday Activities, Including Work, Were Painful

For years, Laura P.’s life was severely impacted by the bunion on her right foot.

Laura works at a state court system’s judicial institute that provides education for court officials.Her duties required her to run from room to room and organize classes for hours a day. At home, some of her favorite activities, such as using her spin bike, talking long walks, and going dancing with her husband, were limited, too.

The mom of 2 and grandmother of 4 was growing frustrated with the pain and the embarrassment she felt at her foot’s appearance.

A self-described “shoe person,” Laura missed being able to get dressed up and wear the shoe styles she loved. At the nail salon, it was even hard for her to put flip-flop sandals on after a pedicure.

“It was ugly. It really was,” she says. “It was the size of a golf ball.”

Laura didn’t try conservative bunion treatment options, such as toe spacers or shoe inserts. She knew they could potentially provide temporary relief but would not correct the deformity causing her bunion “bump.”

Bunions, or hallux valgus, occur when the first metatarsal joint in your big toe rotates out of alignment and causes your big toe to lean in and crowd your other toes. The head of the metatarsal juts outwards to form a bunion.

“I was uncomfortable, I didn’t like the way it looked, and I noticed it getting worse.”

Excited About the Potential to Be Bunion-Free

Around this time, Laura visited the hair salon and chatted with a friend, who is a teacher. The friend told Laura about her surgeon and the Arthrex Minimally Invasive Bunionectomy.

During her initial appointment, Laura’s surgeon explained how the minimally invasive procedure requires only tiny incisions, which result in almost no scarring.^1,2 Because there is less soft-tissue disruption, there is also a better healing environment³ and less swelling and stiffness than traditional “open” bunion techniques may cause.^4,5

Her surgeon also showed her before-and-after images of other patients’ results, which helped Laura make her decision.

Laura underwent the Arthrex Minimally Invasive Bunionectomy in May of 2018, when she was in her early 60s. While she experienced some discomfort during the recovery process, she says it was worth it.

Laura took it easy for several weeks, but with her surgeon’s permission was back to activities such as household chores, taking spin and step classes, and going on walks at approximately 10-12 weeks.

After a couple of months, she says, there was no scar. “You would never know I had it,” she explains.

Now, 5 years after undergoing the Arthrex Minimally Invasive Bunionectomy, Laura is still extremely pleased with the results. At work, she’s no longer uncomfortable. “I think that, if I didn’t have this surgery, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do,” Laura says.

She has strongly recommended the Arthrex Minimally Invasive Bunionectomy to her sister, who also has a bunion, as well as a coworker who was impressed with Laura’s results.

“I am very happy,” she says. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”