Have you noticed that your big toe tends to curve inward toward your other toes, rather than look straight ahead? If so, you could be among the nearly one-third of Americans who live with bunions.
These prominent bumps develop on the big toe joint and can cause pain and even affect your mobility, depending on their severity.
The team at South Florida Foot & Ankle Centers is committed to relieving foot discomfort and movement problems posed by a wide range of foot conditions. With their expertise and ability to listen well and truly empathize, they create highly customized treatment plans for each patient’s unique needs and goals.
There are many reasons why you may have developed a bunion, including:
Aside from the visual difference that’s obvious in a foot that has a bunion, you can be plagued by uncomfortable symptoms like bunion inflammation, pain, big toe stiffness, and skin that’s red and warm to the touch.
The skin on and around your bunion can thicken, perhaps leading to a corn or callus, while bunions may also lead to other foot conditions and deformities. These include hammertoe (when a toe bends at the middle joint), pain focused in the ball of your foot, and nerve damage in your big toe.
What’s more, having a bunion raises your risk for developing arthritis of the big toe joint, and worsening bunion pain can also give you trouble walking.
Though conservative treatments — such as icing your bunion to relieve swelling and pain, using special pads to cushion your bunions, and custom-made orthotics — can ease symptoms, the problem is progressive and worsens with time.
If these approaches don’t provide you with sufficient relief, or if your bunions have progressed a great deal, your South Florida Foot & Ankle Centers provider may recommend a surgical solution to remove your bunion.
When your surgeon performs bunion surgery, they remove some of your bone, realign what’s left, and reposition ligaments and tendons. Consider these four compelling arguments for bunion surgery.
Unlike treatments that offer temporary relief, bunion surgery is the ideal long-term solution. No more pain flare-ups or limited movement, and your shoes won’t cause chafing and skin issues any longer!
In addition to causing other painful foot problems, such as hammertoe, bunions also make it more likely that you’ll develop bursitis (swelling of the sacs filled with fluid that cushion your joints), arthritis, and bone spurs (bony bumps that grow on bones), to name a few.
Bunion surgery isn’t necessary if your bunion presents only a cosmetic concern. But if it causes persistent pain and movement issues that are limiting your activities, it’s time to consider surgery.
Today’s bunion procedures are minimally invasive, meaning that they require smaller incisions, take less time, and bring less pain, bleeding, and scarring than traditional surgery. These advanced surgical techniques also lower your risk of post-surgery infection.
If you have a bunion — or two — that are interfering with your comfort and life, it’s time to talk to your South Florida Foot & Ankle Centers podiatrist about the option of bunion surgery.
They’re happy to answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
To learn more or set up an appointment, call one of our four conveniently located offices in Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens, and Belle Glade, Florida, or use our convenient online booking tool.
