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5 Signs It’s Time to Consider Bunion Surgery
Not everyone with a bunion needs surgery, but many people suffer from their foot pain for too long because they think surgery is the only option.
Bunions are progressive, gradually worsening over time. With early intervention, you can slow down the foot deformity and manage discomfort with conservative care. Not everyone needs surgery, but you shouldn’t suffer your bunion pain if medical treatments no longer work.
At Cascade Foot and Ankle in Nephi and Provo, Utah, our board-certified podiatric surgeon, Dr. Jared Clegg, specializes in foot and ankle surgery. We want to avoid surgery too, but sometimes it’s the only option for improving quality of life.
When is it time to consider bunion surgery? Read on to find out.
1. You have foot pain all the time
A bunion is a foot deformity that affects the alignment of the bones that form the joint at the big toe. When these bones move out of place, they cause the joint to shift inward towards the ankle, creating a bony bump.
Pain is a common and early symptom of a bunion and may only occur when wearing shoes that are too narrow. If you have pain from your bunion bump, it’s time to schedule an appointment to learn about your treatment options, which may include bunion surgery.
2. Conservative care no longer works
Before we consider surgery for a bunion, we try other measures to help you get relief from your pain. Conservative treatment for a bunion may include:
- Wearing shoes with a wider toe box
- Getting customized orthotics that cushion the bony bump
- Making modifications to usual activities
- Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Icing the bump to reduce inflammation
- Getting corticosteroid injections
If you continue to have pain from your bunion with conservative interventions, then we may recommend surgery.
3. Walking is too painful
Are you having a hard time going about your normal routine because of foot pain? Do you avoid activities that require a lot of walking, like grocery shopping?
When your pain is so bad it stops you from enjoying your life or makes it hard to take care of your needs, it’s time to discuss treatment options like surgery.
4. You have other foot problems
A bunion can cause other foot problems like a hammertoe (abnormal bend in the middle joint of a toe) or bursitis (inflammation of the bursae sacs that cushion the bones of the joint). These other foot problems may exacerbate your foot pain, affecting your quality of life.
If necessary, we can perform bunion and hammertoe surgery at the same time.
5. You can’t find shoes that fit
When the bunion progresses, you may have a hard time finding shoes that can accommodate the growing bump. Wearing ill-fitted shoes can make your pain worse. If wearing shoes causes pain and you can’t find a pair that fits, then you may benefit from bunion surgery.
During surgery for a bunion, we correct the misalignment of the bones, eliminating the bony bump. You can expect downtime following bunion surgery and may need to avoid weight-bearing activities so the bones can heal.
Recovery time following bunion surgery varies but ranges from six weeks to six months. However, most people experience improvements in pain and quality of life after surgery, making the recovery time worth it.
Your bunion isn’t going away. Whether you have any of the above signs or not, now is the time to schedule an appointment with our podiatry team. We can provide treatment recommendations that may prevent or delay your need for surgery.
If you do need bunion surgery, we can talk to you about the procedure and what to expect so you can decide how you want to proceed.
Call Cascade Foot and Ankle today or click the book online button to schedule an appointment at the office nearest you to get your bunion evaluated.