Returning to the Mountains After Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®

I have traveled the world and completed walking tours in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. When I’m not traveling, I love to take strolls around my hometown of Tryon, NC – that is, only if I’m taking a break from riding my bike. Unfortunately, my family has a history of bunions. The condition eventually caught up with me, and when my foot pain prevented me from enjoying my active lifestyle, I knew I had to find a treatment option that could fit my needs.

Bunions are a complex and progressive bone deformity1. They occur when bones in the mid-foot drift out of alignment, typically forming a bump on the side of the big toe that is often painful and unsightly. While many believe that only women can develop bunions or that they are caused by wearing high heels, anyone can develop them2,3. About 25% of American adults suffer from bunions and as seen in my case, they frequently run in families4,5,6.

At first, I didn’t know I had a bunion. When I toured Scandinavia in 2020, I was in constant discomfort. Exercise is a core component of my life, so when I suddenly couldn’t do anything physical, I was miserable and perplexed. By September 2022, my pain had briefly subsided, but when I traveled to Australia and New Zealand my condition took a turn for the worse.

Something was wrong right away. I was slow, limping and had difficulty keeping up on the trails. I couldn’t walk for more than 15 minutes without pain shooting from my big toe to my third toe. I visited my primary care physician when I returned from my trip and explained how my pain progressed. He referred me to Dr. Jason Glover of Rutherford Regional Health System in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. Dr. Glover diagnosed me with a bunion in my right foot. My other toes were also misaligned because of the bunion’s progression7. He then introduced me to Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®.

The Lapiplasty® Procedure is a surgical procedure that allows surgeons to realign the bones in the foot using a system of patented titanium plates8,9. The procedure also addresses the cosmetic bump on the side of the big toe. While many patients only undergo the Lapiplasty® Procedure, because my other toes were impacted, I was also a candidate for Adductoplasty®, an additional procedure designed to realign and stabilize the bones in the mid-foot.

As a biology major, I knew enough about the mechanics of the surgery to feel highly confident in it after Dr. Glover walked me through the procedure and recovery timeline. I was hoping that I could be back on my feet by the following spring. I underwent the Lapiplasty® Procedure on my right foot in December 2022.

I was amazed at how smoothly my recovery went! As Dr. Glover instructed, I kept weight off my foot for about two weeks before transitioning to a walking boot. I was cleared to wear regular shoes about a month later. In March 2022, right before spring arrived, I was cleared for full physical activity at my comfort level10.

At my age, quality of life is so important to me. I’m happy to hike through trails and walk up and down the stairs without experiencing any bunion pain. For me, the Lapiplasty® Procedure was a true correction for my bunion.

I plan to return to Germany within the next year. I already referred one of my friends to Dr. Glover and I would strongly recommend the Lapiplasty® Procedure to any eligible patient.

Education is so important when it comes to our bodies. I encourage anyone suffering from bunion pain to research the Lapiplasty® Procedure. While every patient’s situation will be different, I had such a great experience with my surgery!

Only a surgeon can tell if Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ is right for you. As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary and this experience is unique and specific to this patient only. There are potential risks with surgery and recovery takes time. Potential 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.