What Can I Do About My Bunion?

ASK THE EXPERT What Can I Do About My Bunion?

BY DR. JOHN GOODNER

Abunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. It is part of your normal foot and not a growth of new bone. The foot bones are starting to spread out, making the bone more prominent. Here are answers to commonly asked questions about bunions and bunion surgery: What is the cause of bunions? Most commonly it is hereditary. Tight shoes will often bring out the problem sooner. Poor foot structure (i.e. flatfeet) may also contribute to the problem. Can I avoid getting bunions if my mother and grandmother have them? Generally, no. You may wear shoes that are wider in the toe box. This may delay the onset of bunions and prevent them from getting very painful. Eventually, a bunion will appear if you are predisposed to it. Do bunions get worse? Over time the bones in the feet spread out further making a bunion appear larger. It may take months to many years, but they will almost always get worse, especially if you are pronated or flatfooted. Cartilage will start to wear thin and some degree of arthritis may develop. What causes the pain over the bunion? Shoes that are narrow put pressure on the skin, nerves and bone. Numbness or tingling may also develop as the nerve gets compressed against the bone by tight shoes. Can the bunion be corrected? Bunions can be corrected surgically if the bunion is painful and it is unresponsive to conservative care. In some cases, small bunions hurt much more than large bunions. Is it painful to have surgery? When done correctly by an experienced surgeon minimal pain is involved. We have done more than 5,000 bunion surgeries.

Can I walk on it immediately after surgery? We advise people to stay off their foot for two or three days. A surgical boot is uti- lized for a period of six weeks to protect the area and allow it to heal properly. How quickly can I return to work after sur- gery? It usually requires four days of rest at home before returning to work. A special surgical shoe or boot is given to take stress off the area and prevent problems from developing postoperatively. How long will it take to get back into normal shoes? Everyone is different. It will usually take four to six weeks to get back into flat shoes or sneakers. Heels may take two to three months. Will I be able to resume sports after surgery? Stationery bicycles may be used one to two weeks after surgery. Running sports and activities may require six or more weeks. I had bunion surgery many years ago and it has come back. Can I do something about it? Yes. If the surgical procedure is done correctly a second time the results may be outstanding provided that there are no arthritic changes in the joint. If there are arthritic changes, many surgical options are available to correct the deformity. What is the long-term prognosis? In almost all cases, it is excellent. The earlier the treatment, the better the long-term prognosis because arthritic changes are minimized.

Dr. John Goodner is a Board Qualified Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgeon with the Foot, Ankle and Leg Specialists of South Florida and specializes in sports medicine foot and ankle injuries, foot and ankle arthroscopy, lower extremity trauma, and lower extremity deformities in infants, children, teens and adults. The South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine in Plantation is located at 220 S.W. 84th Avenue, Suite 102, (954) 720-1530. The practice website is www.SOUTHFLORIDASPORTSMEDICINE.com. Instagram @ SouthFloridaSportsMedicine. Twitter @SFLSportsMed.

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