Table of Contents
Introduction
What is bunion surgery?
If you’re reading this article, you probably already know that bunions are an enlargement of the bone or tissue where your big toe meets your foot. This joint is called the metatarsophalangeal joint. Bunions can cause your toe to turn inwards, reduce mobility, and cause pain, swelling, and discoloration. They can be caused by genetics, but the risk can be increased by ill-fitting shoes or other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Bunion surgery – or bunionectomy – is a corrective procedure done to reduce pain and relieve symptoms caused by bunions. Your doctor will likely take an x-ray to see how severe the joint damage is and explore other treatments before suggesting surgery as an option.
At Precision Foot and Ankle Centers, we provide an innovative technique that minimizes pain, recurrence, and recovery time. During surgery, a podiatric surgeon will realign the bones and metatarsophalangeal joint and stabilize it with a surgical screw. The procedure typically takes less than an hour, and most patients are able to walk in a boot soon after the procedure and return to wearing athletic shoes within 2-3 weeks.
When should bunion surgery be considered?
1. Other treatments are not working. Before suggesting surgery, your podiatrist will likely recommend some non-surgical bunion treatments. For some people, simply changing footwear can help to manage pain. High-heels or too-tight shoes can greatly intensify bunion symptoms. Your foot doctor might also try these treatments:
- Ice or heating pads to reduce swelling and pain
- Special pads or custom orthotics to cushion the area
- Over-the-counter medication
- Prescription medication
2. If you’ve been experiencing long-term symptoms. Any time spent with bunions is not ideal as they can cause plenty of pain and discomfort. However, some of the non-surgical treatments mentioned above can take time to make a difference. Unfortunately, since they are progressive conditions, bunions cannot heal with time alone. Being left untreated, they can lead to even more complications like bursitis, hammertoe, or metatarsalgia.
- If you’ve had bunions for over a year and nothing relieves your pain or swelling, it’s time to talk to your podiatrist about other potential treatments like surgery.
3. Your bunion is affecting your daily life. If the pain of your bunion is preventing you from living your life, surgery might be a good option to get you back on your feet. If you experience difficulty wearing shoes or have painful calluses on your feet, or if you are an athlete who needs to be on your feet more, surgery may provide the best solution. If bunions are coming between you and the things you love, or even your career, it might be a sign that surgery is the right path.
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