This post is sponsored by Stryker . Only your doctor can help you decide if surgery is your best option.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m all about self-care. As moms, it’s easy for us to prioritize the needs of our family and neglect our own. We make sure our kids never miss a wellness check while we put off a two-minute call to make appointments for ourselves. Here’s the thing: this usually causes more harm than good in the long term. This is particularly true if you’re struggling with bunions, which are bony bumps that develop mostly at the base of the big toe where the joint is located. Based on the location where they develop, bunions usually reduce the mobility of the big toe which can lead to constant foot pain – something us moms should avoid especially since our kids keep us on our feet. As a disclaimer, I have never had bunions.
What Are Bunions and How Do They Affect Adults?
Let’s dive a bit more into bunions! At my first job out of college, I had a fabulous coworker – let’s call her Mary who is still one of the top five most fashionable women I’ve ever met. Mary was older than me with the most gorgeous wardrobe, so much so one coworker even took one of her coats for a spin around the block one day (a story for another day). The only thing is Mary had bunions and I’m glad she was transparent with us about them. She told us her story and educated us younger women at the job about bunions. Mary’s bunions started out small and got progressively worse over the years.
Mary worked full time in New York City and had two kids who were pretty active. She was always on her feet—whether she was rushing to make school drop-offs, pacing through the grocery store aisles, or catching the subway to work. Just like many of us moms, the last thing she needed was the pain of bunions to hold her back, but they did. Mary’s bunions made her feel self-conscious about her feet, and while she was still fashionable, this limited her shoe choices. In a city where everyone walks at record speeds, it was very noticeable how the foot pain from bunions had slowed Mary’s pace.

Bunion Treatment May Help Some Adults
I always wondered if Mary could get treatment for her bunions since they affected her life in so many ways. As moms, we try to find solutions for any and all issues that our kids face, so I think it’s only right that we do the same for ourselves. If you, like Mary, have foot pain due to bunions — even if they’re small or you’ve trained yourself to try to ignore the pain—keep in mind that bunions can get worse over time if left untreated. Bunions can cause the foot’s bone structure to gradually change and a bump could develop on the foot. The deformity may increase over time. causing more deformities like toe crowding1.
So yes, moms should find treatment options to prevent further damage, make walking more comfortable, and allow more shoe options. Treating bunions can prevent further foot problems that affect overall health and, most importantly, it can set a positive example to your kids.
What Treatment Options Are Available for Adults with Bunions?

Stryker’s Surgical Options:
While non-surgical treatments can ease the burden of living with bunions, they are by no means a long-term solution and do not correct the root cause of bunions. I have not had bunion surgery myself, and only your doctor can tell you whether bunion surgery is right for you. Stryker surgical options are designed to provide relief from the pain caused by bunions, preserve mobility, and improve the appearance of your foot: Two of Stryker’s surgical options are: LapiFuse and PROstep MIS2.
LapiFuse:
- LapiFuse is designed to reduce pain and prevent the likelihood of needing future procedures3,4 by eliminating the bunion while maintaining your foot’s natural alignment post-surgery.
- LapiFuse is designed to keep the foot’s natural appearance4.
- LapiFuse is designed to address bunion in the midfoot, preserving joint movement of the big toe, meaning more flexibility of the joint compared to traditional bunion surgery5.
PROstep MIS:
- PROstep minimally invasive surgery involves performing surgery through tiny incisions, usually under some form of image guidance. The incisions are just a few millimeters long compared to 3-5 inch incisions used in traditional open bunion surgery. Very small drills (called burrs) are used to make delicate cuts in the bone of the foot and re-align the bone though the small incisions6
- A minimally invasive procedure is designed to cause less pain7 and as a mom you can return to your regular lifestyle faster8,9.
- Since this surgery is usually carried out under image guidance, surgeons have a line of sight into the foot while operating.

With Stryker’s surgical options, you can say goodbye to bunion pain and get back to your busy mom life. Remember, taking care of your feet isn’t selfish – it is necessary for your wellbeing. Only your doctor can tell you if bunion surgery is right for you, but if you’re thinking about surgical options to treat your bunions, Stryker may have options that fit your lifestyle and needs.Have you dealt with bunions? What’s been your experience?
Share in the comments below. Let’s support each other on this journey to healthier, happier feet!

References:
- www.aaos.org
- https://patients.stryker.com/bunions/treatment-options
- Galli, et al. JFAS vol. 54 (2015) 437–440.
- Walker, Harris. Foot Ankle Clin N Am vol. 24 (2019) 641–648
- https://patients.stryker.com/lapifuse/about
- https://patients.stryker.com/prostep/about
- Lam P, Lee M, Xing J, Di Nallo M. Percutaneous Surgery for Mild to Moderate Hallux Valgus. Foot Ankle Clin N Am 2016; 21: 459-477
- Lee M, Walsh J, Smith MM, Ling J, Wines A, Lam P. Hallux Valgus Correction Comparing Percutaneous Chevron/Akin (PECA) and Open Scarf/Akin Osteotomies. Foot Ankle Intl 2017; 38(8): 838-846.
- Maffulli N, Longo UG, Oliva F, Denaro V, Coppola C. Bosch Osteotomy and Scarf Osteotomy for Hallux Valgus
- Jimmy J. Chan, MD; Javier Z. Guzman, MD; Andrea Nordio, MD; Jesse C. Chan; Carl M. Cirino, MD; Ettore Vulcano, MD. Opioid Consumption and Time to Return to Work After Percutaneous Osteotomy in Foot Surgery. Orthopedics. May 7, 2020