I have bilateral bunions (well, not any more: the left one has been surgically repaired).

"They," whoever they are, blame bunions on ill-fitting shoes and the vanities of the fashion industry. But I probably have them because there is not a commercially made shoe that has ever fit my feet, as I've never worn heels or anything remotely fashionable. I've actually been shopping for shoes and sat down in stores and CRIED out loud because I could not find shoes.

My foot is about a 3W wide and about a 6.5 to 7.0 (long) in regular US sizing. I don't know how it is in other parts of the world, but the women's shoe industry in the US is HORRIBLE. If your foot doesn't fit their Barbie-doll shoes, tough, go barefoot.

The custom-made orthotics I tried were worse than without as far as foot pain. The custom made shoes also did not work. I now wear mostly men's shoes, when I can find them short enough for me. I'm not a girly-girl, but every once and a while, I wish I could wear some pretty shoes.

The foot that was operated on is currently my good foot and I'm glad I had it done. An un-bunion-related injury (falling down a flight of stairs) forced me to have the surgery. But it honestly hurt for about 3 years after the surgery and that's why I didn't have the other one done shortly after the first. I wish now that I had them both done at the same time.

I chose a podiatrist (randomly) and wasn't super-confident in him, so I asked an orthopedic surgeon to recommend the Southeast's best foot surgeon. I ended up driving a state away for a surgeon who had written a chapter in an orthopedic surgery text about foot surgery. I'm not sure I'm any better off than I would have been having it done locally, and it would've saved over 5 hours driving for each doctor visit.

Ask yourself what you hope to accomplish by the surgery. Does your foot hurt now, or is it more cosmetic?

It does sound like you have some basic biomechanical reason for just having one foot affected. You may find that you need to address the underlying biomechanical cause +/- surgery +/- "contraptions."

FWIW, the contrapion I wore on my foot that was operated on was soft and really did make it feel better. It was something I wore only at night, kinda like a retainer. I'm seven years after the surgery and the bunion has not reoccured. Nor do I take pain meds.

On a happy note, foot pain during running led me to start cycling.

Good luck.