Bunions Specialist

Severity of bunions

What are Bunions?

A bunion is a deformity of the "big toe joint". This often visually causes a painful bump at the joint and the big toe often starts to drift towards the other toes on the same foot.  Since this is the joint from which we propulse off of during walking, running, etc, bunions can be quite painful and certain styles of shoes only exacerbate the pain by either rubbing against the joint or loading the joint with excessive force. 

What Causes Bunions?

Bunions can be caused by a number of factors. Most often, they are brought on by genetics and worsen as a person ages but they they are also found in younger folks as well.  Women who wear shoes with high heels or narrow toe boxes are at a greater risk for exacerbating any joint issues and accelerating a bunion formation since these shoes typically put excessive pressure on the big toe joint.

What is Bunion Surgery?

If the condition is found to be severe and debilitating enough, the doctor will most typically suggest surgery. The operation is recommended when an individual’s everyday life and tasks are impeded by the bunion. The surgeon will make incisions into the ligaments surrounding the affected joint to re-adjust the bone. He may install wires and screws to hold the big toe in place during recovery. In some cases, excess bone might also be shaved down while in surgery. Or the bone may be fused to prevent it from moving back to the unwanted position. Bunion surgery procedures usually last about an hour, but the length of time will vary depending on the severity of the bunion.

Are There Alternatives to Surgery?

Surgery is the only way to get rid of bunions, but there are steps that a person can take to alleviate the pain associated with a bunion including:

• Wearing supportive footwear with wide toe boxes, low heels and good arch support
• Custom orthotics
• Put moleskin or felt patches on the pressure areas to reduce rubbing
• Over the counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories can be taken to reduce swelling as well as ice at the end of the day
• Steroid Injections
• Lubricant injections
• Amniotic injections