FIND US

Links

Archive:

Tags

Categories:

 

 

 

hi yes

Posts for tag: surgery

February 15, 2012
Category: people and blogs

Bunions are moBefore and After Bunionst often caused by and inherited trait regarding the mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the bunion itself that is inherited, but certain foot types that make a person prone to developing a bunion. Although wearing inappropriate shoes that crowd the toes won't actually cause bunions in the first place, it sometimes makes the deformity become progressively worse. In other words, sometimes wearing these types of shoes could cause you to experience the symptoms of the bunion sooner.

Bunions are readily apparent- you can see the prominence at the base of the big toe or the side of the foot. However, to fully evaluate your condition, the podiatrist may take x-rays to determine the degree of the deformity and assess the changes that have occurred. Because bunions are progressive, they do not go away, and will usually get worse over time. But not all cases are alike- some bunions progress more rapidly than others. Once your podiatrist has evaluated your particular case, a treatment plan can be developed that is suited to your needs.

Bunion symptoms most often occur when wearing shoes that crowd the toes (most likely shoes with a tight toe box or high heels). This may explain why women are more likely to have such symptoms rather than men. Other symptoms include:

  • Pain or soreness at the site of the bunion especially after wearing crowded shoes.
  • A burning sensation after pressure is put upon the bunion site.
  • In more serious cases, some numbness may occur
  • Calluses on the big toe or sores between the toes.
  • Ingrown toenails on the big toe
  • Restricted motion of the toe because of the increased pain along the site.

Treatment for a bunion sometimes includes just observation. A periodic office evaluation and x-ray examination can determine if your bunion deformity is advancing, thereby reducing your chance of irreversible damage to the joint. However, in many cases some other type of treatment is needed. Early treatments are aimed at easing the pain of bunions, but they won't reverse the deformity itself. These other nonsurgical treatments include:

  • Nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen may help reduce the pain and inflammation.
  • Ice on the inflamed area several times a day to help reduce the inflammation and pain.
  • Placing padding over the area of the bunion can help minimize the pain. You can get bunion pads from your podiatrist or purchase them at a drug store.
  • Avoiding activities that cause bunion pain, including standing for long periods of time.
  • Changing the types of shoes you wear is very important when it comes to wearing the right kind of shoe. Choose shoes that have a wide toe box and forgo those with pointed toes or high heels which may aggravate the condition.
  • Injection therapy is rarely used from bunion treatment. However, in some cases, injections of corticosteroids may be useful in treating the inflamed bursa (fluid-filled sac located in a joint) sometimes seen with bunions.
  •  Custom orthotic devices may be provided by the podiatric surgeon. These devices can be worn inside all your shoes and help relieve bunion pain.
0 Comment(s) Permalink


Podiatry, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Seagle & Dr. Christiansen
1551 S. Renaissance Towne Dr. Ste. 370 Bountiful, UT 84010 Phone: (801) 292-4425
425 Medical Dr. Ste 215 Bountiful, UT 84010 (801)292-9222
11762 S. State Street Ste. 340 Draper, UT 84020 Phone: (801) 566-7297