Bunion Surgery – Foot and Ankle Doctors in Snellville, Georgia Provide Treatment
What is a bunion?
We have all heard of bunions. Bunions are that painful bump on the inside of the big toe. What exactly causes them and what does treatment involve? Common reasons that bunions form are genetics and wearing tight fitting shoes. The biomechanics associated with a person’s foot type also play a very important role in the formation of bunions. Overtime, there can be an imbalance of the musculature and soft tissues around the first metatarsophalangeal joint (big toe base joint) which leads to a prominence of your first metatarsal bone. This is the painful bump that patients usually have issues with while wearing shoes. Overtime, it can appear to increase in size and get worse. The pain can range from dull and aching, to sharp and shooting. Seeing an Ankle and Foot Centers of Georgia Podiatrist can help alleviate this pain.
What are the treatment options to relieve bunion pain?
There are several treatment options available. Conservatively (non-surgical), shoe gear modifications are the first line of treatment. Wearing comfortable shoes that allow enough room for your toes is very important, and orthotics may also be considered to help control your arch. If wider, comfortable shoes don’t get the job done then extra cushioning in the form of protective padding may be necessary to help alleviate the pain. Taping to correct the deformity is rarely effective after a bunion has formed.
If your pain is on a daily basis, bunion surgery may be your only option after attempting conservative care. The goal of surgery is not only to alleviate the pain, but also correct the biomechanical deformity. An experienced foot and ankle specialist will perform a detailed physical exam and take x-rays to further evaluate your bunion. There are many different surgical procedures that can correct a bunion. The one best for you will depend on several factors that your Podiatrist will explain in detail.
What is involved in bunion surgery?
Typically it is an outpatient procedure, meaning you would go home the same day, and can be performed in a surgery center or hospital. The type of surgery that is performed depends on the severity of the bunion, and whether or not there is arthritis involved. Recovery consists of either being partial weight bearing in a postoperative shoe/boot, or if it is a more severe deformity it may require being non-weight bearing in a cast and using crutches/walker for several weeks. Full recovery can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months, and because gravity is not our friend in foot and ankle surgery postoperative swelling can occur for up to a year. Bunion surgery is very successful in helping alleviate pain for patients. You should consider setting up an appointment for further evaluation if you see the development of a bunion occurring or are to the point where no shoes provide relief and the pain is altering your day to day activities.
Dr. Joshua Mann is one of the Foot Doctors in Snellville practicing at the Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia. The mission of Dr. Mann and the Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia is to provide the highest level of podiatric foot and ankle care to every patient who enters their practice.
If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding a possible bunion pain, bunion surgery or any other toe pain, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Joshua Mann for further evaluation. You can call our Snellville, Georgia office at (678)889-1728 or click HERE to make an appointment now!
