On the Run After Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®

As a physical therapist in St. Albans, VT, I have an active year-round work and family lifestyle. I am often busy with my kids, running, playing hockey, snowboarding and caring for my goats and dogs. Bunions run in my family, and they began causing me pain about 20 years ago. At that time, I resorted to wearing wide toe box sneakers and shoes. For years, I attempted to manage my pain with a variety of options including kinesiology tape, gel toe spacers, gel cushion pads orthotics, but none of them provided the long-term relief I needed.

Bunions are a common and painful condition that occurs when bones in the mid-foot slide out of alignment, resulting in a noticeable bump on the side of the big toe. Bunions can impact any individual regardless of their gender, shoe choice or lifestyle[1],[2]. In fact, about one in four American adults develop the deformity[3].

In September 2023, I ran a marathon with my husband. Two weeks later, I was still experiencing intense pain in my right foot, which I always considered my “good foot.”

It was much worse than my usual day-to-day pain I had experienced in the past. It felt like my bones had shifted too much and offloading onto my lesser toes was extremely painful. I had trouble walking. Pain drove me to seek surgery for my bunions.

I wanted to find a procedure that would give me the best chance of returning to my active lifestyle. After researching online, I recalled Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® and spent time going through the Lapiplasty® website’s “Find a Doctor” directory to find the right provider for me. I eventually connected with Dr. Michael Theodoulou at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge, MA.

Dr. Theodoulou showed me videos of the Lapiplasty® Procedure and took x-rays of my feet to determine that I was a good candidate for the procedure. I underwent Lapiplasty® and Adductoplasty® on my left foot in early May 2023 and my right foot was treated using the Lapiplasty® Procedure just 10 weeks later in July.

The recovery for each foot was different. Since the bunion on my left foot was more severe, more hardware was put into my foot, and I had an extended healing timeframe. My right foot had a typical recovery time frame. I experienced less post-operative pain and healed more quickly. Per my individual recovery plan advised by my surgeon, I was able to bear some weight in a walking boot on my right foot the day after surgery and returned to work at 10 weeks post-op even though I was still a bit swollen and moved slowly. A few weeks later, I really began noticing how stable my right foot felt. I was and still am impressed!

As a physical therapist, swelling control was a priority for my healing. According to my surgeon’s post-operative instructions, I used knee high compression stockings, compression toe caps, ice packs, an elevated wedge pillow, manual lymph drainage, and Kinesio tape during my recovery, all of which made my pain manageable.

As I recovered, the benefits of the Lapiplasty® Procedure became apparent. With my surgeon’s clearance, within three months after my right foot was treated, I was able to jog a 5K again. On January 1st, 2024, I ran eight hilly miles in Vermont to celebrate the new year. It was my furthest run in more than a year.

With my bunion pain behind me, I can revisit my hobbies. I’m looking forward to returning to my ladies’ hockey group and going snowboarding with my family for the first time since my surgery now that I know it won’t be painful anymore. I can’t say enough about how happy I am with my results. A huge thanks to my surgeon, Dr. Theodoulou and the Lapiplasty® 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] Nix S, et al. J Foot Ankle Res. 2010. 27:3:21.