Getting Back on My Bike Thanks to Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®

I have served in the United States Air Force (USAF) for 25 years prior to my recent retirement from the Department of the USAF as a civil service employee. In my free time, I enjoy cycling, swimming and working around my house. When I was forced to slow down my active lifestyle due to foot pain caused by bunions, I became determined to find a treatment option that would allow me to get back to my daily activities.

Bunions are a common and painful condition that occurs when bones of the foot slide out of alignment, frequently resulting in a noticeable bump on the side of the big toe[1],[2]. Contrary to common misconceptions about bunions, they can impact individuals regardless of gender, shoe choice, or lifestyle[3],[4]. In fact, about one in four American adults experience the deformity[5].

I began noticing I had bunions when I was around 59 years old, but they became an issue when I started to see my big toe crossing over my lesser toes resulting in more pain. I would wake up in the middle of the night in pain because my toe would cramp up. I also began to have problems with my cycling shoes when they became too tight. When I tried to ride my bike, I experienced frequent spasms and my foot and toes cramped up, too. I just wanted to ride my bicycle!

After visiting my primary care doctor, I discussed the idea of getting my bunion surgically corrected. I began researching my options and came across Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®. Based on my initial research, it sounded very promising. The Lapiplasty® Procedure is an approach that allows surgeons to realign the bones in the big toe using innovative titanium plating technology to secure the unstable joint, addressing the root cause of the bunion[6],[7].

After researching the Lapiplasty® Procedure, I found Dr. B. Collier Watson using the Lapiplasty® website’s “Find a Doctor” tool. Dr. Watson has an office that is four miles from my house. I reached out to him and made an appointment. Dr. Watson took X-rays of my foot and told me I was a great candidate for the Lapiplasty® Procedure. He explained the whole process from start to finish.

Shortly after my initial consultation, I drove two hours to Dr. Watson’s Georgia office on August 3rd, 2022, to have my left foot corrected using the Lapiplasty® Procedure. My recovery was exactly as Dr. Watson described it would be. Per my surgeon’s instructions, I wore my surgical boot for two weeks and then switched to a walking boot for six weeks. After about eight weeks, I went back for my follow-up appointment and gradually started to ease into wearing my tennis shoes and sandals. At around the four-month mark I was cleared by Dr. Watson to start riding my bike again[8]!

I no longer have bunion pain in my foot. It was a very successful procedure and Dr. Watson was wonderful! I would recommend the Lapiplasty® Procedure and Dr. Watson to anybody experiencing bunion pain who is a good candidate.

Lapiplasty® is a surgical procedure. Only a surgeon can tell if the Lapiplasty® Procedure is right for you. This experience is unique and specific to this patient only. Individual results may vary depending on age, weight, health, and other variables. There are risks and recovery takes time. For more information about recovery from the Lapiplasty® Procedure, see the recovery information and discuss the post-surgery recovery process with your doctor. Risks include infection, pain, implant loosening and loss of correction with improper bone healing. For more information on benefits, risks and recovery, visit Lapiplasty.com.

[1] American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2024.

[2] WebMD Website ©2024.

[3] American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2024.

[4] WebMD Website ©2024.

[5] Nix S, et al. J Foot Ankle Res. 2010. 27:3:21.

[6] Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2016. 55:567-71.

[7] Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2018. 57:766-770.

[8] Based on physician’s guidance