Bunion Treatment

Bunion Surgery in Houston & Sugarland

Normal toes extend straight out from your foot. If your big toe shifts inside while your metatarsophalangeal joint moves the opposite direction, you have a bunion. At first, bunions seem relatively harmless, but as time goes on these bunions will cause considerable pain and discomfort. It can get so bad that if, untreated, a bunion may leave you unable to walk properly. Instead of enduring the pain, call the Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists of Sugar Land. We offer non-invasive bunion treatments as well as sophisticated bunion surgery for those with advanced cases.

Bunion Surgery in Sugar LandBunion Causes and Symptoms

If one or both of your parents had or have bunions, there's a good chance you'll develop a bunion, too. The development of bunions depends largely on foot type, which is passed down from parent to child. Bunions also develop as a result of uncomfortable footwear—particularly high-heel shoes with narrow toe boxes. Bunion symptoms include redness and swelling of the big toe, irritation on the first or second toe, and a large bump at the base of the big toe.

Signs that You Need Bunion Surgery

If you have a bunion, it's important that you visit a foot doctor. Most bunions can be treated without surgery, though bunion surgery may be necessary if you exhibit the following signs.

  • Difficulty Walking: If your bunions cause so much pain that you have trouble walking or performing other everyday activities, surgery may be your best option.
  • Toe Stiffness: A normal big toe should bend and straighten without pain. If you are unable to move your toe, ask your foot doctor about surgery.
  • Ineffective Conservative Treatment: Surgery should always be a last resort. Before surgery, your foot doctor will likely recommend special footwear, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other conservative treatments. If these treatments fail, surgery is your only option left.

Surgical Techniques

Like most other aspects of medical science, bunion surgery has come a long way in recent years. The earlier you visit a foot doctor, the less invasive surgery you will require.

  • Bunionectomy: Patients with relatively minor deformities may undergo a simple bunionectomy, during which the wayward bone section is cut and removed. A bunionectomy involves a minimal incision, and allows the patient to quickly get back on her feet.
  • Joint Realignment: If you have a more severe deformity, your foot doctor may opt for one of several different kinds of joint realignment. The utilization of a pain pump can help manage pain during surgery.