Bunion Treatment & Bunion Surgery

Bunions are a very common problem seen at our podiatric offices. With this condition, patients will complain of a painful bump, typically at the base of the big toe joint. This bump is a bone deformity typically caused from an imbalance or misalignment of the foot caused from instability or traumatic injury.

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Bunions usually enlarge over time and can cause toes to move out of place. This can result in further problems such as hammertoes. As the bump grows, rubbing and friction against shoes worsens, causing a lot of pain and discomfort as it becomes irritated and inflamed. Patients report pain in the big toe joint and along the inside of the foot while wearing certain shoes while exercising.

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Simple activities such as walking and wearing shoes can aggravate this condition and even lead to chronic pain. Many patients have reported that it does get worse over time and often present a family history of it.

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Other names used for this condition include hallux valgus, hallux obducto valgus, Tailor’s bunion and bunionette.

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Treatment for Bunions

We are able to treat bunion conditions both conservatively and surgically depending upon the severity of the bunion. After a thorough examination, including clinical and gait analyses, an appropriate treatment plan will be decided.

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The newer advanced surgical technology used by our bunion surgeons allows more of a minimal incision procedure to be performed to adequately correct more of the mild to moderate bunion deformities. Surgery recovery is a lot quicker, patients are able to walk sooner than before and as long as patients are compliant, usually have an unremarkable recovery.

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Can You Prevent Bunions and/or Treat this Condition at Home?

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A lot of bunion deformities are hereditary so there isn’t much you can do to fully prevent them. Early detection and treatment will go a long way in preventing the growth of the bunion and foot pain. Often times, a good custom orthotic can be very effective in slowing the progression of a bunion, but a podiatrist provides that.

Waiting with bunions will worsen the condition and could lead to further complications such as hammertoes or contracted toes. Besides causing deformity, these secondary conditions can eventually cause issues with walking and affect your knees, hip, lower back.

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There are some bunion shields that you can place on the bump to ease symptoms and pressure from shoes. However because this condition is an actual bone deformity, the over the counter option solutions are more like a Band-aid approach.

If you need treatment for bunion pain, please contact our office to schedule an appointment before your condition worsens.