Bunion Surgery

What is a bunion? 

A bunion is a bony protrusion located at the base of the big toe. This is actually not a new bone growth, but rather just the bone that is slowly being pushed outwards due to weak structures in the foot or abnormal foot mechanics.

How do you treat bunions?

The only treatment for bunions is through surgery. Bunion surgery usually involves realigning the first metatarsal so that the joint no longer deviates. This is done by applying local anesthetic to numb the affected foot. In some cases, a sedative may be used to calm the patient. The surgery usually lasts an hour or so and is commonly done on an outpatient basis. The aim of bunion surgery is to restore the normal alignment of the joints and eliminate pain. 

What are the major types of bunion surgery? Types of bunion surgery

1. Traditional Bunion Surgery

Traditional or Typical bunion surgery is done by making an incision, around 5 to 7 cm, to expose the bulging bone. Then a part of the metatarsal head is removed. This process is called bunionectomy or exostetomy. The bones are then positioned and pinned in place and excess bone is removed. In this type of bunion surgery, expect swelling and pain after surgery. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for recovery to occur, during which time, crutches are required when moving around.

Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery

This is a new bunion surgery technique, also called no scar bunion surgery or scarless bunionectomy, is less invasive compared to the traditional type of surgery. This involves a very small incision, around 5mm or less. Then a live x-ray is used to help the surgeon locate the best place to cut the metatarsal bone. After cutting, the bone is repositioned to its adjacent metatarsal bones to get the foot as normal as possible. Once the bone is realigned to its ideal location, a pin is inserted to immobilize the bone and the incision is closed. Minimally invasive bunion surgery is virtually painless and the procedure is done as an outpatient basis. There is very little to no pain after surgery, and recovery time is only about 2 to 3 days.

Home Treatments for Bunions

A bunion is characterized by a painful and swollen bump in the joint connecting your big toe to your foot. The enlargement that is seen is actually a misalignment of the big toe joint.


There are many causes for bunion formation. One of the causes is having abnormal foot biomechanics like overpronation. Other causes are previous foot conditions such as sprains, fractures, nerve injuries, loose ligaments, and low muscle tone.

Heredity also plays a role in bunion formation. The risk of having bunions is increased if other members of the family have the condition. Gout and rheumatoid arthritis is also said to be associated with bunions.

Using ill-fitting shoes is likely to make an existing bunion worse. Wearing high heels also cause considerable strain on the toe joint because they tend to push the body weight onto the front of the foot.

Here are home treatments for bunions that can ease the pain and discomfort:

1. Take nonprescription medicines such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen following the recommended dose to help relieve toe pain. 
2. Elevate the foot to help reduce inflammation. 
3. Apply ice to the painful joint  to ease pain.
4. Use orthotics, arch supports, or bunion pads at the bottom of the foot to redistribute the weight and take the pressure off the big toe.
5. If possible, use custom made shoes to ensure proper fit. Another way is to use shoes with a bigger toe box. There should be enough space between the tip of the longest toe to the end of the shoe. The shoes should not squeeze any part of the foot and should be roomy enough for the toes. Switching to sandals instead of closed shoes can leave the painful area of the foot exposed.
6. Pads inside the shoes or foam rubber cut into a doughnut shape with the hole for the bunion is another easy but effective home remedy.
7. Avoid activities that put pressure on the foot, especially the big toe.

However, bear in mind that the only definitive treatment for bunion is bunion surgery. Bunions that are left untreated will likely get bigger and cause more pain. The purpose of surgery is to fix the alignment of the big toe. If these home remedies fail to provide relief, then it may be time to see a podiatrist. Modern and virtually painless treatments are now available, as well as scarless bunion surgery.

All You Need To Know About Morton's Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition of the foot usually affecting the area between the third and fourth toes.  Patients usually complain as if they are stepping on a pebble in their shoe. This is due to a thickening of the tissues around the affected nerve, because of constant irritation, pressure or injury to the nerve of the toes, which can cause sharp burning pain around the balls of the foot.

Symptoms:

•  A feeling as if there is a pebble in your shoe.
• Numbness or tingling sensation in your toes.
• Burning pain in the ball of your foot that can radiate to your toes.

Who are at risk?

• Wrong footwear– wearing high heels is an obvious risk, not only does it cause Morton’s neuroma, high heels can cause all sorts of foot problems.
• Sports that are stressful to the feet like sprinting, running, foot ball, etc. Also, certain sports that require the use of tight shoes like rock climbing or skiing.
• People with foot deformities like flatfeet, high arches, bunions and hammertoes have higher risk of developing this type of neuroma.

Treatment

The treatment of Morton’s neuroma depends on the severity of symptoms,  conservative treatments are usually given as an initial approach.

Non-invasive treatments

• Foot pads and arch support are initially used to reduce pressure to the nerve.
• Injection of steroids into the affected area can be helpful for some patients.

Invasive treatments

• Decompression surgery. This is done by removing some structures surrounding the nerve growth like ligaments to relieve pressure.
• Removal of the nerve is necessary if all treatment fail to provide relief. Unfortunately, this may lead to permanent numbness to the affected toes.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis And How To Treat It

Plantar fasciitis is a debilitating condition which involves injury and inflammation of the plantar fascia. This is a thick connective tissue found underneath the foot, which is very important in maintaining the foot's arch.

There a lot of causes of plantar fasciitis but the patients that mostly have this condition are athletes and the elderly. People engaged in sports that involve intensive use of the feet like runners, cyclers, basketball and football players, and the like can injure the plantar fascia due to excessive stress to the feet. The plantar fascia, as with any part of the body, is prone to wear and tear, so it is typical to find elderly patients with foot problems.

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis are heel pain on the first steps after getting out of bed in the morning or stepping out of a car. Pain gradually deceases after a few steps but pain could heighten up again during the day especially after long periods of standing or climbing the stairs.

A thorough physical exam and past medical history is necessary for a podiatrist to properly diagnose foot pain due to plantar fasciitis. There are different causes of foot pain that can show similar symptoms as that of plantar fasciitis. A correct diagnosis is the key to proper treatment.

There are several approaches in treating heel pain and the goal is to relieve the forces that are causing the plantar fascia to be stretched excessively. At home, there are easy ways to relieve foot pain. Resting the foot is an effective way to stop the pain. If the foot is allowed to rest long enough, this can encourage healing of the plantar fascia. Ice packs or cold compress provide quick relief of pain and swelling. If pain still persists after these basic treatments, then a podiatrist should be consulted.

  

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Our feet are probably the most used but most ignored parts of our body. During the day, an average person will spend about 12 to 14 hours on his/her feet. Because the feet are used so much in daily activities, it is not surprising that the feet may become injured from time to time. Approximately 75% of people around the world suffer from foot pain at some stage in their lives. Foot pain can really affect a person’s daily activity. One of the most common cause of foot pain is plantar fasciitis.

The plantar fascia is a thick band of fibrous tissue found underneath the foot. It attaches to the calcaneous bone or heel bone to the metatarsals for the feet. It is responsible for maintaining the arch of the foot and acts like a shock absorber. Plantar fasciitis occurs because of extreme stress to the foot, causing micro injuries to the plantar fascia, making it inflamed and tender causing mild to severe foot pain.

Symptoms

•  Pain is worst when taking first steps after long rest like taking the first step when getting out of bed in the morning or after a long drive.
• Pain is felt underneath the foot
• Pain lessens upon using the foot, but pain may then gradually increase.
• Resting eases the pain
• Stretching the underside of the foot can be painful

Causes

• People who are runners, sprinters or engaged in any sport that involve tremendous stress to the foot
• Obese people commonly have plantar fasciitis
• The use of wrong footwear

Treatment

• Rest – resting the foot is the primary goal in treating plantar fasciitis. This allows the micro injuries to heal. Depending on the severity, it will take a few days to several months to treat plantar fasciitis.
• Ice - applying cold stimuli can help reduce pain and swelling.
• Compress – applying an elastic bandage help decrease the swelling and it immobilizes the foot for faster healing
• Elevate – elevating the foot above the heart is a good way to reduce swelling. This will prevent pooling for fluids to the affected foot.