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Commonly Asked Questions About Bunions

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There are many painful conditions that can develop with your feet. Bunions can be particularly common, but many patients may not be very informed about this medical problem when they first encounter it. Learning more about this foot problem can give you a stronger ability to address your bunions and find relief from the painful symptoms.

How Would You Know If You Had A Bunion?

When a patient develops a bunion, a small bone growth will form where the big toe meets the foot. This growth will often develop very gradually over many weeks or months, but it can make walking and standing extremely painful. Due to the fact that a bunion is a bone growth, it can be difficult to diagnose without x-rays. However, the most prominent symptom of mild bunions is an intense pain when the toe joint bends. In extreme cases, the bunion can cause the big toe to start to point towards the side. To prevent your bunion getting this severe, you should have a podiatrist inspect your foot whenever you notice chronic pain developing around your toe.

Are There Treatment Options For Those Suffering From A Bunion?

For those that are suffering from a bunion, professional treatment will be necessary to correct the problem. Unfortunately, surgery is typically the only effective treatment for removing a patient's bunion. However, it may be possible to slow the development of a current bunion or minimize the risk of this problem returning through the use of specially design shoes. These shoes will help to prevent pressure from being put on the toe joint.

What Will Recovering From Bunion Removal Surgery Be Like?

Undergoing any type of surgery can be a somewhat major inconvenience. However, bunion surgery is a relatively minor outpatient procedure. In most instances, removing a bunion can be completed in a fairly short procedure that usually takes less than a couple of hours.

During the recovery phase, you will need to limit any walking that you do for the first couple of days after the procedure. Additionally, you will need to regularly change the bandaging and clean the surgery site several times a day. Lastly, follow up visits will usually be required so that your podiatrist can closely monitor your healing. It can be tempting to skip these follow-up visits if your foot appears to be healing normally, but it can be possible for minor infections to develop that can be difficult for the untrained eye to catch. By attending these sessions, you can greatly reduce the risk of experiencing potentially serious complications from your surgery.


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