Doesn't "bunion" sound like something that pusses?

For my entire life, I have had strange feet. Let's face it, I have clown feet. Ever since I was in first grade, I was the girl with HUGE feet. I can legitimately tell you that I have NEVER shared shoes with a girlfriend or cousin. In fact, when I was in sixth grade, my dad's youngest sister used to give me shoes she didn't want - and they fit me! Let's keep in mind the age difference!

In addition to the boats I have for feet, they have been shapped funny - typically calling for me to not only purchase a size ginormous, but also a wide. Talk about a difficult way to shop for shoes!!! I had surgery on my left ankle 2 years ago because I tore a ligament on the outer muscle. The doctor did a great job repairing it and "tightening" everything up. That foot is now, and I'm totally serious here, narrower and smaller. My right foot however, it has been an ISSUE.

I don't know if you heard, but Bloomington Normal had about 139823 feet of snow this year. I searched high and low for snow boots that I could wear, and found a few pairs that I loved! After a few days in the same shoe, my foot would ache really bad! What the heck! I had to keep rotating shoes every other day or my foot would swell and be red.

One day, the swelling was so bad, I just called my doctor from my first surgery and scheduled an appointment. They asked me to come in as soon as possible to get it checked out. Oh yay!!! I called my parents and they weren't even surprised that I had some weird problem. I sent them these pictures.

(Disclaimer: if you just ate or have problems with feet, I would suggest skipping these pictures!)

Check out my right foot. Do you see that bump on the big knuckle?

Here, maybe this will help:

Haha, that's what was really hurting me, swelling, turning red, and making it impossible to walk.

Of course I had theories about my foot growth/bump but I didn't really have time to worry about it. Over spring break, I went to the doctor. The doctor's assistant took a look and my foot and made a face. SHE MADE A FACE. Ok, there's no like... warts on it or anything! She scheduled an x-ray to give the doctor all he needed to make a diagnosis.

Well, here is the x-ray with his pen marks on it:

That's my right foot. Can you see the pen marks? Well, they are a little faint, but the doctor needs to break 2 bones to repair the problem - and then screw them together. Eeek!!

So what's the problem, you ask? I have a bunion. Here was my reaction when he told me that. "...." Yeah, what the heck is a bunion? You say bunion to me, I think a puss filled sac that old women have on their feet. The doctor, seeing my confusion, explain that a bunion is actually a bone deformity. As my feet grew and I had trouble finding shoes, the deformity grew and got worse. He advised that I not wait much longer. He also found a bone spur, arthritis, and other junk floating in there.

Whoa!

Well that sure does explain a lot! No wonder my big toe cracks ALL the time! No wonder it has gotten worse as I've gotten older! Despite all that, what remains is surgery. :\ It's definitely hard to comprehend how breaking 2 bones, screwing them together, and sanding down other bones will make this all better - and why you would want to!!! But really, if it helps and lets me wear shoes, I'm excited!

3 hours the appointment, the scheduling office called and scheduled me for a 10:30am surgery on May 11th.

Just an FYI: I graduate on May 8th! 3 days after I finish college they are breaking my bones! I am to the point where I find this amusing. Does anyone else? I had 3 surgeries in high school, and 3 in college. "Special" I tell you!!!! It'll be an interesting start to my summer. Please, come over and hang out! I'm not sure if you put the pieces together or not - but surgery on my right foot really keeps me from driving.... for a long time!!