Bunion Support

Bunion Bootie is loved and adored by both new and loyal customers alike, including members of the military. As a response to the overwhelming interest in Bunion Booties by active and non active members of the military, Bunion Bootie is proud to soon introduce their Military Discount Program!

(NOW LIVE!)

As a response to overwhelming interest in Bunion Booties by active duty military and other members of the military community, Bunion Bootie is introducing an exclusive Military Discount Program, protected by SheerID. Eligible active duty service men and women, veterans, retirees, and military spouses qualify for a 10% savings on each and every order placed with Bunion Bootie. By employing the services of SheerID, a trusted partner that provides instant and accurate identity verification, Bunion Bootie can ensure that only eligible military personnel can take advantage of this exclusive offer.

“We’re excited to partner with Bunion Bootie to directly address the needs of the military community,” says Jake Weatherly, CEO of SheerID. “Our technology allows Bunion Bootie to give their military customers a secure, easy verification experience.” The service should be completely live and available for use on BunionBootie.com as early as May of this year.

The 10% military discount will be available in conjunction with automatic discounts applied when purchasing more than one Bunion Bootie. Visit the Bunion Bootie Discounts Page for more details or contact CustomerService (at)BunionBootie (dot) com.

About Bunion Bootie
Unlike hard bunion splints, toe spacers, and bunion pads, Bunion Booties can be worn comfortably and easy in almost any shoe and stays in place all day long. Bunion Bootie was established in 2011 by a small group of bunion sufferers who came together in search for an effective non-surgical treatment for bunions. Bunion Bootie is the perfect answer for people who must stay on their feet for prolonged periods including office workers, shift workers, members of the Armed Forces, and athletes. Bunion Bootie fits in any shoe easily and comfortably and provides all day relief from the rubbing and irritation caused by bunions. Bunion irritation, if left untreated, can result in blisters, swelling, tenderness, and bursitis. At only 0.4mm thick, Bunion Booties fit comfortable in almost any shoe (including high heels and running shoes), and is made with odor and bacteria resistant materials. Discounts are available when purchasing multiple Bunion Booties. Please visit https://www.BunionBootie.com for full details.

About SheerID
SheerID is the creator of verification technology used to transform existing, protected private data into a service that benefits commercial enterprises and the public, while still keeping the information safe and secure. For more information on SheerID’s verification solutions, call 855-SheerID to speak directly to a representative, email info(at)sheerid(dot)com, or visit http://www.sheerid.com.

 

Mothers begin promoting proper posture at a very early age.  “Stand up straight!” would often accompany a quick poke in the back.   Now in my 30′s I wish someone would do that to me as I type at my desk all day long.  I used to think I had good posture but as I type this (and likely as soon as you read the word “posture”) I sit up straight and realize that there is much to be desired in the posture department.

So what does posture have to do with my bunions you ask?  Well, the answer depends on who you talk to….

Pete Egoscue has been successfully helping people relieve all sorts of pain since the early 70′s and according to one friend of his (and notable golfer), Jack Nicklaus, “Pete Egoscue totally changed [his] life.”   Since establishing 25+ clinics, including a few in Japan and Mexico, Pete Egoscue has been teaching a therapy method that relieves chronic pain for the young, the old, the athlete, the non-athlete, the famous, and the infamous. This unique method is based on the body’s functional design – or posture. Therefore, to put it simply, Pete Egoscue is a “Posture Therapist.”

By achieving muscular balance and re-incorporating muscles that might have for the most part, gone dormant due to non-use over the course of many years, Egoscue believes that by doing a few simple exercises (some of which require no moving at all surprisingly) you may slowly begin to awaken these unused or underutilized muscle groups, and your body will start to re-learn the proper way of moving.  Many people have sought out the help of Pete Egoscue and his crew for a variety of ailments including but not limited to; headaches, carpal-tunnel syndrome, sciatica, knee and ankle pain, and last but certainly not least….even bunions!

Having read his book myself “Pain Free:  A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain” I can certainly see the value right away.  He teaches you how to slowly re-engage muscles such as your hip flexors (have you even heard of those before?) and you learn that the hips can actually be a strong contributing factor to bunion development.  By “skating” on the inner edges of your feet you are actually creating pressure unnecessarily.  The body protects that area by creating more bone there.

To add to his theory, WebMD states, “Bunions may be caused by foot mechanics that result in too much pressure on the big toe joint. An abnormal foot motion called excessive pronation…. may contribute to the pressure. Over time, the constant pressure forces the big toe out of alignment, gradually bending it toward the other toes.”

According to Carol Gamboa’s article called “The Truth About Bunions” who is also AET certified by the Egoscue University, it’s not uncommon to find that if someone has a bunion on only their right foot, that they actually stand with up to 65% of their body weight shifted right of their natural center.  After beginning a daily routine under her guidance, Carol’s clients begin to balance  weight evenly between the left and right side and their bunion stopped hurting!  Without fixing the root cause of the issue, even surgery could prove to be ineffective to rid bunion pain permanently.

Now of course, if you have bunions on both feet a full and proper analysis of your bio-mechanics and joint position are in order.  Bones follow the muscles lead so the good news is, muscles can be trained to do new things or do old things even better.  The bad news is, if the muscles are not functioning properly, joints can be pulled out of position and result in any one of the following conditions; muscle strain, arthritis, tendonitis, joint degradation, and bunions.

 

A recent study was performed by the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society to examine the presence of bunions in males, as compared to females.   Obviously since bunions are predominantly a women’s problem (to the tune of 9 to 1!), studies on men with bunions, or hallux valgus, has been far less common due to the disproportional amount of men available to study.

Each male and female study participant began the study by answering several questions from a standard hallux valgus protocol.  These questions ranged in topics but included questions about their pain level, deformity progression, lifestyle habits, family history, and the use of special or constrictive footwear.   Those who displayed or communicated a history of inflammatory, infectious, or traumatic diseases were excluded, and all participants were described as having either “normal” or “flat” feet based on 3 weightbearing lateral radiographs (you can read it here if you want the full glory details).

 So, what would be the differences found between men and women in a study specific to bunion sufferers? Well… (Spoiler Alert!) let me share with you the highlights found in this particular study…

1. Among the males in the study, 68% of the subjects had a family history of bunion deformities.  Broken down you get 58% of cases could be tracked back to the mother while only 10% could point fingers at their father.
2. Inadequate footwear was frequently noted on the female side but was very limited on the men’s side (shocker, right?)
3. There was no statistical significance regarding the presence of flat feet for either gender (I have high arches so I personally never bought the belief that flat feet caused bunions)
4. There was a much earlier onset of the deformities in men in the study since many sought treatment well before they were 30.
5. Hallux Valgus presents as a more severe deformity among males (YIKES, sorry guys!)

 

So there you have it, the top 5 take-aways from the male/female bunion study.   I thought it was interesting as I personally have not been able to find much scientific data on the comparison or presence of bunions in men.

 

Bunion Bootie is proud to celebrate over 10,000 bunion splints sold in 2012!

Last year closed out as a very successful year for both Bunion Bootie and their customers, as more and more customers come back to repurchase and spread the word to friends and family.

As we transition into a new year, Bunion Bootie wants to thank all of it’s loyal and new customers for such a prosperous 2012. Bunion Bootie is extremely proud and humble to hit such a great milestone just shy of the new year of 10,000 Bunion Booties sold, especially when 100% of their sales are generated online. “It’s been a great year and we only have our customers to thank. We look forward to an even better 2013 and are extremely honored to be able to serve each and every customer.” remarked a Bunion Bootie spokesperson.  “The biggest celebration of the year was the number of repeat Bunion Bootie customers that was up 250% from the prior year which really speaks to the appreciation customers have for the product, easily seen by the reviews we’ve received and posted on our website.  And fortunately those customers are telling others since word of mouth is becoming a larger part of how customers are hearing about Bunion Bootie.”

Bunion Bootie was established in 2011 by a small group of bunion sufferers who came together in search for an effective non-surgical treatment for bunions, a solution that they felt did not exist previously. Bunion Bootie is the perfect answer for those people who must stay on their feet for prolonged periods including office workers, shift workers, and athletes. Bunion Bootie fits in any shoe easily and comfortably and provides all day relief from the rubbing and irritation caused by bunions. Bunion irritation, if left untreated, can result in blisters, swelling, tenderness, and bursitis. At only 0.4mm thick, Bunion Booties fit comfortable in almost any shoe (including high heels and running shoes), and is made with odor and bacteria resistant materials.

Please visit their website for full details. Discounts are available for purchases of more than one (1) Bunion Bootie and those can be found on the website. For more information contact Bunion Bootie through the company’s website, BunionBootie.com, or by emailing at email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Bunion Bootie is the ideal holiday gift for anyone suffering from bunion discomfort. Buy them for family members, friends and yourself and save! For a very limited time starting Cyber Monday, website visitors can take advantage of these great discounts on shipping and the more Bunion Booties purchased, the more money is saved. Stock up and save this holiday season and give the gift that keeps on giving!

Unlike hard bunion splints, toe spacers, and bunion pads, Bunion Booties can be worn comfortably and easy in almost any shoe and stays in place all day long.

Bunion Bootie was established in 2011 by a small group of bunion sufferers who came together in search for an effective non-surgical treatment for bunions, a solution that they felt did not exist previously. Bunion Bootie is the perfect answer for those people who must stay on their feet for prolonged periods including office workers, shift workers, and athletes. Bunion Bootie fits in any shoe easily and comfortably and provides all day relief from the rubbing and irritation caused by bunions. Bunion irritation, if left untreated, can result in blisters, swelling, tenderness, and bursitis. At only 0.4mm thick, Bunion Booties fit comfortable in almost any shoe (including high heels and running shoes), and is made with odor and bacteria resistant materials.

Please visit their website http://www.BunionBootie.com for full details. Discounts are available for purchases of more than one (1) Bunion Bootie and those can be found on the website. For more information contact Bunion Bootie through the company’s website, BunionBootie.com, or by emailing at email hidden; JavaScript is required.

We’ve all heard it before; “Bunions can be cured with just a few exercise.”  But can they?

First of all, I’m sorry to disappoint but bunions can’t be “cured”.  They are not a disease, they are a condition.  Even surgery can result in the return of the Bunion for some people.  Unfortunately bunions typically only get worse without some type of treatment.  Many of our fans ask – “What else can I do besides wear the Bunion Bootie to help care for my bunions?”  Great question, and the inspiration for this post actually.

You would be surprised how just the basic adjustments to your lifestyle can positively affect your bunions.  Avoiding the shoes that cause irritation to your bunion is a great place to start (most of the discomfort associated with bunions is directly related to the amount of inflammation in that area).  Inflammation increases as irritation increases.  So take a hiatus from those irritating shoes and give those toes some air!  5 Minutes of icing can always help too.

Aside from external influencers you could try attacking the pain from the inside.   We pulled together some great videos from experts in the fields of chiropractic medicine, physical movement, and exercise and compared their tactics and rational.    Here’s what we came up with.

Chiropractors

Chiropractors are a fan of free range of motion.   Anything that helps to increase the flexibility, circulation, and opens up the toe bed will help to release the pressure and built up tension of bunions is typically recommended.  Bunion Bootie helps to do this but incorporating a few simple exercises can help take it to the next level.  Some of the moves recommended by chiropractors are what most people would recognize as yoga moves; Tree Pose, Yoga Toe Stretch, and Toe Flexion.   I’ve linked video tutorials to each for reference.

Physical (or Sports) Therapists

Sports therapists often recommend non surgical options first however, since performance is often times the way in which this athlete makes a living, if the bunion has progressed far enough that it’s causing extreme pain or discomfort then often surgery is the only route.   Here’s some literature provided by Dr. Scott Swanson confirming that if your condition doesn’t respond to splint devices sometimes surgery is the only way.

Pilates and Yoga Instructors

Many yoga and Pilates instructors also have some exercises in their arsenal of options.  Here’s a link to Sharon‘s YouTube demonstration who’s brought relief to some of her clients using the Doming, Heel Raises with Demi Squat, and Releves.

All of these exercises have one thing in common; they encourage range of motion and use of the toe’s ligaments and muscles by either active or manual motion.

Bunion Bootie recently updated their existing size chart in order to accommodate the addition of the X-Small size.  This is an addition many Bunion Bootie customers were anxiously awaiting.

“We are excited to be able to make this announcement regarding the expansion to the Bunion Bootie family.” a company representative said. “We’ve had a growing list of people requesting and waiting months for the Bunion Bootie in size X-Small. Our company is committed to deliver what our customers want and we’re thrilled to say it’s only one of the many initiatives that we are working on this year.”

Announcing…the newest in the Bunion Bootie family….X-Small!

Bunion Bootie was established in 2011 by a small group of bunion sufferers who came together in search for an effective non-surgical treatment for bunions, a solution that they felt did not exist previously. Bunion Bootie is the perfect answer for those people who must stay on their feet for prolonged periods, including office workers, shift workers, and athletes. Bunion Bootie fits in any shoe easily and comfortably and provides all day relief from the rubbing and irritation caused by bunions. Bunion irritation, if left untreated, can result in blisters, swelling, tenderness, and bursitis. At only 0.4mm thick, Bunion Booties fit comfortably in almost any shoe (including running shoes!), and is made with odor and bacteria resistant materials. The proper size for each bunion sufferer is best determined by measuring the length of their foot, as well as considering their foot width, bunion deformity level, and intended wear pattern. More information is provided on the website under the Sizing Tips page.

Please visit their website http://www.BunionBootie.com for full details. Discounts are available for purchases of more than one (1) Bunion Bootie and can be found on the website. For more information contact Bunion Bootie through the company’s website, BunionBootie.com, or by emailing at CustomerService (at) BunionBootie (dot) com.

 

 

Do podiatrists really want bunion sufferers to find alternatives to bunion surgery?

Not too long ago there was plenty of press about the battle between Aetna and a number of podiatrists in California.  Doctors were allegedly cashing in on the bunion surgery billings, some to the tune of $66,100 per patient, for procedures that normally range from $3,000-$4,000.  These clinics were even referred to as “cash cows” by one Georgetown University expert, “[these providers] only make money when they do stuff”.    As best stated best by the LA Times [L1] “How does this affect you, the patient? Many health plans allow patients to get treatment from out-of-network providers, on the understanding that the choice will cost them — they’ll pay a coinsurance share of 20% to 50% of the bill, and the insurer will pay only a percentage of the remaining “usual and customary” fee for the service, supposedly an average of the fees charged.   The idea is to encourage patients to use network providers who accept negotiated fees, which saves everyone money. The Aetna and United lawsuits say the BASM clinics winked at the patient obligations by waiving the coinsurance charge and promising not to bill patients for any balance not covered by their insurers. They then allegedly filed sky-high claims with the insurers, hoping to be reimbursed for the whole sum.”

The question is even more relevant in the UK where there is a new breed of health care practitioners called podiatric surgeons[L2] .  These surgeons use local anesthetic instead of general, which allows the procedure to take place in an clinic’s office.  What is the per-requisite to become a podiatric surgeon?  Only 1 Year post graduate course in surgery after a chiropody or podiatry degree.   That’s it!  These practitioners were told in 2010 by the UK’s Department of Health not to use the title “podiatric surgeon” after a rash of complaints were filed.  

Also, the span of common practice varies from those that work closely alongside orthopedic surgeons and those who act on their own. Patients are referred for NHS treatment and are not aware of their qualifications or skill level.  Some patients report suffering from all sorts of terrible and eventual outcomes including broken bones, nerve damage, gangrene, and toe amputation.  According to an article in the Daily Mail one woman reported severe nerve damage for 3 years following her surgery.  She was finally able to get orthopedic surgery in attempt to correct the prior surgery but still suffers from excruciating arthritic pain and often has more pain then before her bunion surgery.  Also mentioned in the article by Daily Mail, Huw Foxall, a 67 year old runner from Ealing, West London, suffered severe gangrene which went unnoticed because his foot was put in a plaster boot following an operation by a podiatric surgeon to correct hammer toes.  He had to have his big toe amputated.   ‘The cast was taken off and the foot was a truly awful sight, it was black and blue,’ he said.  Yet another man had to be financially compensated after the unnecessary surgery left him unable to work, thereby ruining his career.

So the question is asked again, do podiatrists really have your best interest in mind when it comes to deciding what the best bunion treatment? is for their patients?  Especially those considering surgery?   Certainly we hope that these examples are the exception to the rule but it still begs the question if podiatrists should be considered the subject matter expert when it comes to the bone structure and alignment that is often compromised with moderate or extreme bunions.

We’ve decided not to go down that road of bunion surgery and we know many people are with us on that decision.  We’d love to hear form anyone who has an opinion or story to share.

In this down economy many Americans are struggling to keep, find, or combine jobs in order to maintain their current level of income and lifestyle, which more often includes basic essentials such as health insurance.   This is not news anymore but how does that impact the spectrum of bunion sufferers?  Those who’ve recently been laid off such as one young professional who lost her day job and now waits tables on her feet, 8-10 hours a day while in excruciating and worsening pain from their bunions.  Or the 50-something worker who was given either early retirement who was nervously putting off, for clearly too long, having bunion surgery?  For folks in similar situations who find themselves in either more pain (usually brought on from a job that requires being on your feet all day) or who no longer have health insurance (but now all the time in the world to recover from surgery), a viable bunion treatment may seem out of the question, if not impossible.

There’s good news though, nothing could be farther from the truth.  While bunion relief might seem like a distant dream because now you need to be on your feet all day, or you aren’t able to have your bunion surgery, many people in similar situations actually CHOOSE to manage their bunions themselves, and according to them it seems to be working!  More and more people are opting out of bunion surgery due to the complications and recovery time (can be up to 6 months!).  Even more are too old to go under the knife, or just prefer to seek a natural bunion treatment that approaches the pain from a more holistic angle. Where do those people turn to for treatment and relief from the most painful of bunions?   2 Words; Bunion Bootie.

Being active and on your feet all day is a lifestyle, whether you choose it, or it chooses you.  And generally speaking most people want, or need to maintain their activities; be in for play or work.  There’s no better way to manage bunion pain and still keep up with your shift duties, athletics challenges, or just simple restlessness than to turn to Bunion Bootie.  For those that have evaluated bunion surgery and have decided against it for so many different reasons, they are also finding relief from bunion pain in as little as 2 weeks of wearing the Bunion Bootie.  Just read what some Bunion Bootie wearers are saying;

“I had a bunionectomy on my right foot 2007. It has never felt quite right.  The toe posture was elevated from the beginning. I was in pain & driving was challenging. With the Bootie I feel support to drive  “normally” almost and feel much more secure & safe.  I wish I had never had surgery in the first place.   I have been an athlete all my life and this certainly has been an interesting experience and I truly believe in mind over matter.  Your bunion Bootie is extraordinary in the fabric & engineering.  I congratulate you and am most grateful that I found it.” – Elizabeth

“I had no idea what to expect as I have never tried anything to help but did probably think it would be a waste of money.  I am amazed at how it has affected my life.  The relief I can not put into words.  Even doing sports has changed to the point that I never realized how painful my feet actually were until wearing the Bootie.” – Jackie

“Wearing the Bootie eliminates the pain in the bunion during running and being on my feet for a long time.  I can now run without pain with the Bootie.” -Stacey

So before turning reluctantly to surgery or admitting defeat, anyone suffering from mild to moderate bunion pain should at least try Bunion Bootie.  Every buyer gets 30 days to “test drive” the Booties and if they don’t like it, they are welcome to return it for a full product refund, no questions asked.  So what do you have to lose?!  Best of all, they offer discounts when you purchase more than 1 – Get yours today!