If you have bunions, sometimes surgery is the best option for recovery and pain relief. Recognizing the signs that you need it - and then acting on them and visiting your podiatrist - can help you get the care you really need.
A bunion can begin to appear quite subtly, with only a mild bump and no symptoms. However, this is a progressive condition and without treatment, it will only get worse. Typically, patients only seek help for their bunions when they become painful and/or uncomfortable, but the earlier you treat them, the longer you can prevent bunion surgery.
Some of the questions to ask yourself regarding your bunion before seeking treatment include:
- Is the bunion affecting the other toes of your foot?
- Is your footwear choice being affected?
- Does the bunion affect your daily activities?
- Is the bunion causing you pain?
As a bunion progresses, it can become debilitating and affect your quality of life and ability to perform daily activities. That’s why it’s important to address this condition as soon as you can.
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To Healthy Feet Podiatry is a leading foot clinic located in midtown and downtown New York City offering comprehensive foot and ankle services such as bunion care and surgery.
Whatever your needs, our team of award winning foot doctors and medical professionals can provide you with customized and successful treatment plans that will solve your foot ailment and get you back on track to healthy feet.
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3 Key Signs You Need Bunion Surgery
It can be very easy to put things off until ‘some day’ in the future, especially if it’s something that seems a little scary, such as surgery. Many patients would rather put off a problem and only deal with it when they no longer have a choice.
However, this gives the problem time to progress and become worse. This is usually the case for foot conditions such as bunions. There are times when bunion surgery is your best option for recovery and pain relief, so recognizing the signs that you need it - and acting on that - will allow you to get the care you really need.
What Is Bunion Surgery?
Bunion surgery is always considered a last resort for treatment. Most bunions can be cared for successfully using conservative methods, such as custom orthotics or changes in shoewear. However, there are times when bunion surgery is best for your feet.
Here are a few signs that you may need bunion surgery:
Your bunion deformity is already severe or it’s getting worse: If your bunion is getting progressively worse, despite foot care, or it’s already severely deforming your foot, then surgery may be your only option.
Your bunion pain is getting in the way of normal life: If you aren’t able to wear normal shoes, or your joint pain makes normal standing, walking, or getting around, more difficult for you, then your podiatrist may suggest surgery as a way to restore function to your foot.
Conservative treatments aren’t helping. If you have been trying non-invasive bunion treatments for a while now, but they haven’t resulted in any improvement or slowed the progression of your problem, it may be time to consider bunion surgery.
If any of the above sounds familiar to you, then you should visit your podiatrist to discuss the possibility of bunion surgery. This procedure will:
- Correct the deformity
- Alleviate your pain and discomfort
- Improve foot function
- Enhance your quality of life
Remember: it’s much better for your feet to have the surgery in the long run, rather than continuing to suffer from the undesirable side effects of worsening bunions.
Call Our NYC Foot Doctors Today
Bunion surgery is never your first choice for treatment, but it can become your best option when conservative methods aren’t enough. If you think you might need bunion surgery, our award-winning NYC foot doctors can help take care of your feet and eliminate your deformity.
To find out more about how our NYC foot doctors can help restore optimal function and health to your feet, contact us at 917-398-3668 or fill in our online contact form.
FAQs
Key points to remember
Other treatment includes wearing shoes with lots of room for your toes and using pads and supports in your shoe for protection and comfort. Surgery may be right for you if your toe is too painful, if your bunion is very big, or if you can't easily do your daily activities.
How do I know if I need surgery for my bunions? ›
Key points to remember
Other treatment includes wearing shoes with lots of room for your toes and using pads and supports in your shoe for protection and comfort. Surgery may be right for you if your toe is too painful, if your bunion is very big, or if you can't easily do your daily activities.
What can be mistaken for a bunion? ›
One of the most common bunion look-alike foot conditions is arthritis of the big toe joint. Big toe joint arthritis causes swelling which resembles bunion on the side of your foot. It even causes foot pain when putting pressure on your foot or walking.
What is the best age for bunion surgery? ›
How old should you be to get bunion surgery?
- Bunionectomies before the age of 18 can be trickier because the bone plates may still be shifting and accommodating. ...
- Before the age of 35, your risk of recurrence is much higher, and you may need a second surgery later on.
- After the age of 60, expect recovery to take longer.
When to see a doctor. Although bunions often require no medical treatment, see your doctor or a doctor who specializes in treating foot disorders (podiatrist or orthopedic foot specialist) if you have: Ongoing big toe or foot pain.
What does a severe bunion look like? ›
The MTP joint gets larger and protrudes from the inside of the forefoot. The enlarged joint is often inflamed due to abnormal mechanics and direct irritation. The word "bunion" comes from the Greek word for turnip, and the bump on the inside of the foot typically looks red and swollen like a turnip.
Can you really correct a bunion without surgery? ›
In most cases, bunions can be treated nonsurgically. One of the podiatrists from our team can examine your bunion(s) and recommend a conservative treatment which includes one or more of the following: Custom shoe orthotics (inserts) that relieve pressure on the joint and align your weight in a more beneficial way.
Why is my bunion suddenly so painful? ›
A fluid-filled sac, called a bursa, cushions the bone near the joint on your big toe. When that joint gets bigger because of a bunion, the bursa can get swollen and painful -- that's called bursitis. This can make it hurt even more and may damage the smooth tissue that covers the joint, called cartilage.
How do you tell the difference between a bunion and a ganglion cyst? ›
Ganglions can be distinguished from bunions by feel since ganglions are softer to the touch.
How do I know how bad my bunion is? ›
The main symptom is usually pain and redness at the bump itself, but patients may also feel pain at the ball of the foot, and stiffness in the big toe joint. Symptoms often progress as the bunion becomes more severe with a more prominent bump and big toe deviation under or over the smaller toes.
Advanced age alone does not preclude bunion surgery but certain age-related conditions can increase the likelihood of compromised healing and poor outcome. Examples include diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, age-related skin atrophy, obesity, poor bone health and mobility limitations.
Why avoid bunion surgery? ›
While this procedure is often used to reduce pain and improve the appearance of the foot, it can also lead to permanent changes in the natural shape and alignment of the bones in your foot/feet, which will affect the biomechanics of your feet and how they absorb pressures when you walk, stand, climb, run, etc.
What is the NeW procedure to correct bunions? ›
Lapiplasty® is a new procedure using patented technology to correct not only the bunion, but its root cause.
Does walking a lot make bunions worse? ›
A sure-fire way to exacerbate your bunion is to stand on your feet all day. Walking or running a marathon is the worst thing you can do for your bunion, and if you have a job that keeps you on your toes, you may need to take some time off to heal.
How can I shrink my bunions naturally? ›
How to Shrink Bunions Naturally: A Step-By-Step Process
- Step 1: Assess Your Footwear. ...
- Step 2: Use Bunion Pads and Splints. ...
- Step 3: Incorporate Toe Exercises and Stretches. ...
- Step 4: Apply Ice and Heat Therapy. ...
- Step 5: Consider Custom Orthotics. ...
- Step 6: Embrace Foot Soaks and Massages. ...
- Step 7: Maintain a Healthy Weight.
Adolescent girls, ages 10 to 15, also can acquire bunions, but it's rare. Over time, the foot bones are squeezed into an unnatural formation causing damaged anatomy and pain.
Is it worth it to get a bunion removed? ›
Is bunion surgery worth it? This will be up to each patient. But in short, if your bunion pain was keeping you from walking, doing the activities you liked, or exercising regularly, then the surgery is worth it. You won't only regain the freedom of moving around pain-free, but you will also protect your future health.
What happens if you leave a bunion untreated? ›
If left untreated, a bunion can cause arthritis, especially if the joint in the big toe has sustained extensive, long-term damage. Bunions may cause the cartilage in the joint to deteriorate. While bunions can be remedied through surgery, arthritis and the possibility of chronic pain are not curable.
