Bunions

Bunions affect one-third of adults, gradually becoming so painful that they make walking difficult. The skilled podiatrists at the Foot and Ankle Specialists offer nonsurgical treatments that ease your pain and discomfort. However, bunions can’t get better without surgery. When surgery is the next step, they specialize in minimally invasive procedures that get you back on your feet the same day. If you need help with bunions, call the office in The Woodlands, Memorial City, or Huntsville, Texas, today or book an appointment online.

What are bunions?

A bunion is a deformity that causes a large, protruding bump on the side of your foot at the base of your big toe. 

When excess pressure forces your big toe to move inward toward your other toes, the joint bends outward. Without treatment, bunions gradually enlarge, causing more pain and making it hard (even impossible) to wear your regular shoes.

What causes bunions?

You don’t inherit bunions, but you can be born with a faulty foot structure that affects your feet and puts pressure on the big toe. Wearing tight-fitting shoes adds more pressure, causing bunions to develop more rapidly and speed up joint damage.

What symptoms do bunions cause?

In addition to the noticeable bump, bunions cause symptoms like:

• Pain and tenderness
• Inflammation and redness
• Calluses or corns (around the bump)
• Limited toe movement
• Burning sensation or numbness

Bunion symptoms usually get worse as the day goes on, especially if you spend a lot of time standing or walking. High-heels or shoes that crowd your toes add to your pain and discomfort.

How are bunions treated?

Bunions don’t get better on their own. Whether rapidly or gradually, the joint enlargement keeps getting worse. The Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands customize your treatment based on your symptoms and the extent of the joint’s deformity.

Though bunions are visible, your provider might take X-rays to fully evaluate the bones and determine the extent of the damage. Bunion treatment usually begins with nonsurgical therapies that ease the pain but don’t cure the bunion. For example, you might need padding, orthotics, or new shoes that put less pressure on the bunion.

If nonsurgical methods don’t give you enough pain relief, the next step is surgery to repair the joint and eliminate the bunion. The Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands specialize in minimally invasive techniques that allow you to use your foot shortly after surgery.

Advanced minimally invasive techniques like the dynaBunion® and miniBunion® procedures significantly reduce pain after surgery and shorten your recovery.

You can get relief from bunion pain at the Foot and Ankle Specialists of The Woodlands. Call today or book an appointment online.