Bunion surgery
Usually bunions are treatable without the need of surgery but sometimes bunion surgery is necessary if the nonsurgical treatment methods are not effective enough. By getting bunion surgery for you bunions you can help eliminate the constant pain associated with the condition and fix various foot deformities that relate to the condition. If you have a severe bunion condition then it is definitely recommended that you get bunion surgery.
What Are Bunions?
First off, for those that do not already know lets go over what a bunion is. Essentially a bunion is a foot deformity that is a result of hallux valgus which refers to your largest toe turning outwards. The bone in your foot that connects your largest toe will have a bump (bunion) formed which consists of both bone and soft tissue. The bunion will in result cause your foot to point in the wrong direction and cause discomfort and some other issues as well.
The Cause of Bunions
There are a few different common causes of bunions but the most common would be wearing shoes that do not fit properly for an extensive period of time. In particular, shoes that are designed too narrow for your feet or have a toe box that causes your feet to feel stuck can cause bunions to form. Basically, whenever your toes are stuck in a resting position that is not normal it could cause bunions if it stays like that over a long period of time.
Bunions are more common with women than men and the main reason for this is likely the fact that most women are wearing shoes that are under their proper fitting size. Almost ninety percent of American women (based on a study completed by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) are wearing shoes that are too small for their feet. Of this number, roughly 55% of them have developed bunions because of it.
Preventing Bunions
Bunions can cause a lot of discomfort in your big toe and could require bunion surgery if the condition gets severe enough. The best thing you could do is try to prevent the bunions from forming. The most effective way to prevent bunions from forming would obviously be to make sure that you are wearing shoes that fit you properly. Be sure that your toes get proper breathing space but do not have too much space. As long as your toes are able to rest in a natural position the chance of bunions forming is fairly low.
Treating Bunions
Bunion surgery is rarely necessary as it is only required for the much more severe cases. Most bunions will not develop to that severity level and can be treated with nonsurgical methods. If you have bunions that are extremely painful and always feel discomfortable then it may be a sign that bunion surgery is necessary.
If you are starting to notice your big toe has a bunion then you will want to speak with your doctor to determine the severity of the condition and if bunion surgery is necessary. If it is not then you can still get recommended to some nonsurgical treatment methods to get rid of the bunions.
When Bunion Surgery Is Necessary
As already mentioned, if you are feeling extreme pain as a result of the bunions then it is definitely a sign that you need bunion surgery. There are various signs of a severe bunion which requires surgery such as extreme foot pains that restrict you from normal daily activities such as walking or using any form of footwear, besides socks.
Other signs of a severe bunion that requires bunion surgery include: swelling of the bunion that does not go away after nonsurgical treatment is attempted, anti-inflammatory drugs being ineffective to eliminate the pain caused by the bunion, regularly needing to bend or straighten your big toe due to stiffness, and a major change in your toes shape and pointing direction.
The severity of bunions can vary dramatically so knowing how severe your case is will help prevent you from wasting time if it is not a major issue that requires bunion surgery. If it is only a bunion that causes minor discomfort and is almost unnoticeable then you may want to consider trying different shoes that fit better and are more comfortable. Usually this is the answer to people with less severe bunions and if it does not change anything then it may be a sign that you have a more severe case than expected.
Ultimately, there are many different types of bunions that range in severity and identifying where your condition fits in the list is absolutely necessary if you want to be able to treat it easily. If the pain is beyond what you can take then you should definitely see your doctor immediately as you may have a more severe condition that does require bunion surgery.
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