Bunions take years to develop. No one suddenly wakes up in the morning to find a newly formed bunion on the side of their foot. Rather, bunions develop after years –– in many instances decades –– of pressure placed on part of the foot due to improper alignment. The bad news here is that when a bunion forms and starts to grow, it will usually continue to get worse. Bunions that are left untreated over time do not go away on their own. So, can bunions be reversed? The short answer is no. While there are numerous tools and treatments available over the counter to help relief pain associated with bunions, the only way to get rid of a bunion for good is by treating it at the source, which must be done through surgery.
What is a Bunion?
A bunion is a bony bump that can form at the base of your big toe. Bunions occur when an imbalance of pressure is placed on your foot, causing your bones to move out of place. Bunions are quite common, with around 1 in 3 adults experiencing this issue at some point during their lives. Bunions can be uncomfortable, and when left untreated, can become extremely painful and can prevent people from resuming daily activities such as walking, driving, or sleeping comfortably. Bunions that are left untreated cannot be reversed, and are likely to get worse with time.
How Do Bunions Form?
Anyone can develop bunions. Contrary to popular belief, bunions can affect people of all ages. While some people may be predisposed to have bunions due to the natural shape of their foot, the truth is that everyone can experience them (and nearly 1 in 3 adults will at some point). Bunions are caused by an imbalance of ligaments, tendons, and muscles in the foot. One of the most common causes of bunions is improper footwear. High heels and other tight-fitting shoes can restrict the foot and exacerbate the development of bunions, as well as shoes that are the wrong size. This is one reason why women traditionally have more bunions than men, though it is possible for men to have bunions as well.
Bunions are not genetic, but they can occur as a result of the natural shape of one’s foot, leading some individuals to be at higher risk of developing this issue naturally than others.
Bunion Relief
Unfortunately, nonsurgical methods for treating bunions are largely ineffective. Over the counter treatments, toold, and products such as pads, cushions, and specialized footwear are not designed to treat the root cause of bunions. These methods are meant to provide short-term relief to bunion pain –– not to realign the foot or to diminish the bunion. While these methods can be helpful for temporarily relieving pain associated with bunions, in order to experience permanent relief, bunions need to be surgically removed.
Bunion Removal
Since bunions can’t be reduced through stretching the foot or by using products like bunion pads or correctors –– and since bunions won’t disappear over time –– the only way to have unsightly and painful bunions removed is through surgery.
Many patients are hesitant to undergo bunion surgery as it is often regarded by patients and physicians alike as one of the most painful medical procedures. The good news is that when it comes to bunion surgery, patients today have options.
It’s true that traditional bunion surgery is often painful, as it often uses permanent hardware, leaving scars on the foot and forcing long recovery times –– sometimes in excess of six months.
At Northwest Surgery Center, patients can undergo minimally invasive bunion surgery and have their bunions removed in just a couple of hours without permanent hardware. Minimally invasive surgery is an outpatient procedure, and most patients are able to walk out of the clinic on their own and drive home afterward. What’s more, minimally invasive surgery is just that –– meaning the surgeon will only make several very small incisions in order to remove the bunion. As such, the recovery time is much shorter than traditional bunion surgeries.
The thought of undergoing surgery for the removal of bunions can be daunting, but thanks to minimally invasive bunion surgery at Northwest Surgery Center, removing bunions can be fast and painless, so patients can resume their normal lives free from bunion pain sooner.
In Conclusion
Bunions are extremely painful and, when left untreated, the pain only worsens. Over the counter products and treatments do not treat bunion pain at the source, requiring individuals to undergo surgery in order to experience permanent relief.
Bunions will only get worse over time – the sooner you opt to receive treatment such as minimally invasive surgery, the sooner you can begin living without pain, and resume your usual activities such as walking, driving, and sleeping comfortably.
Contact Us
Our team at Northwest Surgery Center is committed to helping people who are suffering from foot pain as a result of bunions, hammertoes, heel spurs, and other common conditions. We are experts in minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of issues such as bunions, and can make bunion removal as simple and pain free for patients as possible. Using only the most innovative techniques to ensure positive outcomes for our patients, our team of expert medical professionals have years of experience, and can remove bunions and put you on the path to healing today.
Contact us here to learn more about minimally invasive surgery for the removal of bunions or to schedule an appointment today!
