Do you have a bunion that is really causing problems in your life? You may be surprised to learn that many people have bunions and don’t even know it. But the majority of sufferers of this problem do most definitely know because of
the pain and other issues associated with it. And this is when they will want to find an effective bunion treatment option to get them on their way to recovery. However, which option you choose will be greatly dependent on how severe the bunion is.
You will be happy to hear that there are many treatment options out there that do not involve surgery.
For instance, your doctor may prescribe a treatment option of wearing shoes that are larger than normal so that there is plenty of room to move around. Furthermore, the shoes that he has you wear will have to be comfortable as well as have special toe pads on your feet or pad made for your shoe that helps make your toes go in the right position needed. In addition, to help with the pain associated with your problem your doctor might prescribe a bunion treatment that includes an over the counter pain reliever like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or others like Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen).
But there are even other treatments like soaking you foot in a whirlpool bath that can also cut down on the discomfort you are feeling. However, if the pain is not going away with regular pain medication then your doctor may decide to give you the option of having bunion surgery called bunionectomy. What this surgery does is take out your bunion, and even as far as resurrecting the shape of your first toe joint. This is done by getting rid of the tissue that is enflamed as well as straightens your big toe if needed. Furthermore, your doctor may need to also straighten the bones of the affected joint in order to reshape it or make it stay joined. In the end the main point of this bunion treatment surgery is to not only get rid of the bunion but to keep it from returning by fixing the underlying problem.
However, you will find that most common causes of bunions and the problems associated with them will come from your footwear. As mentioned above your doctor will usually start by changing the shoes you wear to allow for healing. And the biggest factor in those shoes is that your feet have room to move around so that your toes do not become deformed in shape. But the biggest reason why this bunion treatment is chosen first is because surgery is used only as a last resort as it causes extreme pain and debilitation for at least three months after.
Furthermore, besides pain and restriction of movement there are many other risks involved with surgery and this is why you should think twice. For example, when looking at this option it is important to remember that it is not like cosmetic surgery where it can be necessary because of how it makes you look. A bunion is not noticeable and surgery should never be decided upon because of that. And although a surgery can improve cosmesis, this bunion treatment should only be done if both the pain is not manageable and the footwear solutions do not work.
Information about surgery;
• Surgery decreases the width of your forefoot by 1/8 inch
• Studies have been done finding that 1/3 of patients could no longer wear their preferred footwear that they did before the surgery
• Extreme pain and discomfort for around 3 months
• Risk of surgery not working well
On the other hand, as mentioned above, if normal bunion treatment has not worked for you then surgery is really the best alternative. Not only will it most likely get rid of your bunion but it will also correct your toe causing the problem.