When Should I See a Podiatrist for My Bunions? | Joint Replacement Institute (2024)

FAQs

When Should I See a Podiatrist for My Bunions? | Joint Replacement Institute? ›

See your podiatrist at the first signs or symptoms of a bunion deformity, as early treatment may stop or slow its progression.

If you have pain when you're walking in flat shoes that should feel comfortable, make an appointment with a podiatrist (a foot specialist). It could be a bunion or some other problem. Your doctor will look at your foot. They may want to take an X-ray to decide how best to treat your bunion.

Conclusion. Tailor's bunion surgery is an effective way to address the pain and discomfort associated with this common foot condition. It is important to remember that surgery should only be considered when conservative treatments have been unsuccessful in alleviating symptoms.

There's no cut-and-dry rule regarding an age limit for bunion surgery.

Both podiatrists and orthopaedic surgeons are qualified to treat foot and ankle conditions, surgically and non-surgically. In general, the best bet is to choose the doctor you feel the most comfortable with, or who has the most experience treating your particular condition.

Although bunions can also be addressed by an orthopedic doctor, your best course of action is to see a podiatrist, who specializes in the treatment of conditions or injuries involving the foot or ankle.

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. It's not clear how well bunion surgery works or which kind of surgery is best.

While it's best to get bunion surgery early before the foot becomes misaligned, many people tend to ignore their bunion when it isn't causing pain. Once your bunion begins to be painful even when you use bunion pain relief methods, it is time to consider bunion surgery.

Lapiplasty has been called a “paradigm shift ” in bunion correction surgery. The surgeon no longer has to cut freehand. A patented instrument holds the metatarsal bone in correct position in all three dimensions at the same time before the surgeon makes any cuts.

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.

If left untreated, a bunion can cause arthritis, especially if the joint in the big toe has sustained extensive, long-term damage.

Orthotics. Molded shoe inserts that you can buy at your local pharmacy can help correct the mechanics that cause a bunion to form. Custom orthotics made specifically for your feet may be the next step if OTC products don't work.

Complications of foot and ankle surgery can include infections, swelling and stiffness, and wound haematoma (bleeding). If you're generally healthy the risk of a serious complication from an operation is very small. Every possible care is taken to prevent complications, but in a few cases these do happen.

The truth is that foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons have the most comprehensive training available for nonsurgical treatment options and have the highest level of qualifications to diagnose the root cause of any foot or ankle problem.

Podiatrists complete four years of higher education at a school of podiatry to receive their medical certification. They follow their podiatry education with two to three years of residency. Foot and ankle specialists receive additional advanced training to treat traumatic injuries of the lower leg, ankle, and foot.

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.

Other non-surgical treatments for bunions include injections of cortisone or oral anti-inflammatory medication and wearing custom-made shoes that accommodate the bunion deformity.

Diagnosis. Your doctor probably can tell you have a bunion just by looking at your foot, but they'll want to do an X-ray to see if the joint is damaged. That also can tell them how serious it is and possibly what caused it, which can help them decide how to treat it.

Unless bunions are cared for or the causes are addressed, they'll gradually worsen over time. Here's a severity chart – notice how the big toe starts moving between the other toes and moving them out of place as time goes on.