Nine out of every 10 bunions occur on female feet. In fact, one in three women will develop them at some point. Once you have a bunion, it will not go away on its own; it can only get worse if left untreated. This can result in severe discomfort, infections, as well as extensive, long-term damage to the big toe. As such, it is important to see a doctor and have bunions fixed as soon as possible. So how can you ensure you make informed decisions and prevent bunions before they become problems? Here’s what you need to know about minimally invasive bunion surgery.
What is a Bunion?
A bunion is a structural foot problem characterized by a painful bony bump that forms on the joint where your big toe and foot meet. The foot deformity develops when some of the bones in the front part of the foot get out of alignment. This causes the big toe to lean towards the second toe, resulting in a protruding bump on the side of the big toe. Oftentimes, symptoms will appear further down the road as the disorder progresses.
Bunions can be caused by a faulty foot structure, foot stress and injuries, or medical conditions like arthritis. Fortunately, the disorder can be corrected using procedures such as minimally invasive bunion surgery.
Symptoms of Bunions
Understanding the symptoms of bunions will help you determine whether you have a deformity. This will enable you to seek proper and timely treatment. Below are some common signs and symptoms.
• A bulging bump on the outer side of your big toe.
• Red and inflamed skin around the big toe joint.
• Numbness in the big toe.
• Foot pain that may be intermittent or persistent.
• Your big toe turning towards your other toes.
• Corns and calluses often caused by the first and second toes rubbing against each other.
• Difficulty or inability to move the big toe.
Generally, wearing narrow shoes, high heels, or standing for long periods of time can aggravate these symptoms.
Treatment Options
Treatment for bunions focuses on slowing the progression of the disorder and reducing pain. After evaluating your bunion, your doctor will develop a treatment plan that suits your needs. Here are some of the available treatment options.
Bunion pads and taping: Over-the-counter bunion pads will act as a buffer between your foot and shoe, effectively helping to ease the pain.
Footwear changes: Roomy or orthopedic shoes take pressure off of your toes by ensuring there is adequate space. Use padded shoe inserts to help distribute pressure evenly whenever you move your feet.
Medications: Your doctor may prescribe oral and topical pain relievers to help deal with pain and swelling. In some cases, cortisone injections can help.
Physical therapy: Depending on your condition, your treatment plan may include massage, exercises, physical therapy, as well as ultrasound therapy. This helps to strengthen foot muscles and improve range of motion.
Surgery: If the above treatment options do not relieve symptoms, bunion surgery will come in handy. Surgery not only relieves pain but also restores normal function by realigning the affected joint.
To prevent long-term complications, you must know when to get your bunion fixed. Call your doctor in case of persistent swelling, deformity of the big toe, difficulty walking, or difficulty finding shoes that fit properly.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery
When it comes to surgery, you should consider minimally invasive surgery. Indeed, this is the best surgical option for a person with bunions. However, for the best results, be sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor when your bunion has not had too much time to progress. Below are some benefits of the procedure.
Less Scarring
Minimally invasive surgery is performed using tiny incisions in the foot as opposed to a large opening. This ensures minimal scar tissue, less scarring, as well as faster healing time.
A Walking Recovery
Your foot will not be opened or exposed. So you will not need a cast or crutches. The foot will be wrapped in a soft dressing and you will be able to walk out of the operating room and get back to light daily activities.
Far Less Pain
The use of small incisions contributes to less post-operative pain. This reduces the length of stay in the hospital and allows you to get back on your feet faster and go back to work sooner.
Minimal Stiffness in the Big Toe
During a minimally invasive surgery, the risk of damage to tissues around the big toe joint is reduced significantly. This in turn reduces the risk of complications like joint stiffness.
Recovery Time
Minimally invasive bunion surgery is an outpatient surgery. After the procedure, you will be moved to the recovery area where you will be monitored for one to two hours before you are discharged. During the first few weeks following the surgery, follow-up appointments will be necessary to monitor your progress. Mostly, you will be able to return to normal, everyday activities after about six to eight weeks. However, it may take 10 to 12 weeks to return to high-demand activities such as sports and running.
Frankel Fast Recovery Bunion Surgery
Today, new technology makes the treatment of bunions easier. This offers both healthcare providers and patients numerous benefits. Dr. Marc Frankel uses innovative bunion surgery options to ensure excellent results and help you get back to your life faster.
Dr. Frankel combines three advanced bunion procedures: PROStep minimally invasive surgery, MINIBunion minimally invasive bunion system and Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction. This produces the only 3D minimally invasive, pain-free and virtually scarless bunion procedure. The good news is that Dr. Frankel performs the procedure at a same-day surgery center and most patients are able to put full weight on the foot right after surgery. With this minimally invasive bunion procedure, recovery is accelerated and you will soon forget you had a bunion.
Visit Frankel Foot and Ankle for Bunion Related Issues Today.
Once you have determined you might a candidate for minimally invasive surgery, choose the right surgeon for the operation. Dr. Frankel is an industry expert in podiatry with a career spanning over 20 years. At Frankel Foot & Ankle Center, we have three offices: one in Milford, PA, one in Warwick, NY and one in Middletown, NY. Contact us to schedule a consultation for getting minimally invasive bunion surgery.
