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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.