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When Do Bunions Require Surgery?
Centimeter by centimeter, millimeter by millimeter, the bottom of your big toe has angled itself toward the outside of your foot. You look like you have a big bump on the inside of your foot, and it isn’t pretty. Whether you were born with it, or you just recently noticed it, you have a bunion, which is 10 times more common in women than it is in men.
Bunions aren’t necessarily a problem. Until they are. Although you might not like the look of your bunion, you can probably tolerate it as long as your bunions can tolerate your shoes. Once your shoes fit too tightly or the bunion’s irritated by any pair you choose, you may wonder how you can tame or eliminate this deformity.
Angelo Morreale, DPM, and our team at The Foot Institute: Angelo Morreale, DPM
in Shreveport, Louisiana, know our bunions. In addition to nonsurgical options, we also offer surgical solutions to help you and your feet feel friendly in shoes again.
Do you contemplate surgery for your bunions? Following are a few points to consider when dealing with your bunions.
Bunions are here to stay
Bunions — the commonplace name for a foot deformity called hallux valgus — are caused by an imbalance in your metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The MTP is the first on your big toe — right at the base.
Over time, the long metatarsal bone drifts toward the inside of your foot. The base of your toe, in response, angles to the outside. Due to friction in shoes and other reasons, the joint builds new bone to protect itself in its new position. That’s what creates the bony protrusion known as a bunion; it’s the base of your toe, and then some.
A bunion is progressive. None of the changes are reversible. You may be able to halt the progression of your hallux valgus, but you can’t undo it on your own.
However, surgery can undo what nature has wrought. During bunion surgery, we realign your MTP joint. We also shave off the bony protrusion at the base of your toe to restore your foot as close to its pre-bunion shape as possible.
Bunions can be painful
Even if you aren’t vain and kind of shrug when you look at the state of your feet, your bunion can literally become a pain. As a bunion becomes more prominent, the bony protrusion encounters more friction when in a shoe. This can lead to inflammation and tenderness, which makes wearing shoes intolerable.
If you’re dealing with bunion pain, surgery provides a more sustainable solution than limiting your foot wardrobe to flip-flops. Or going barefoot, which can create its own problems.
Bunions can be complicated
A large bunion can cause problems for your other toes, your feet, and even the way your body is balanced. When your toe angles inward, it may cross over or push against your other toes, causing crowding and problems such as:
- Hammertoes
- Calluses and corns
- Bursitis
- Ingrown toenails
A bunion disrupts the balance in your foot, which may ultimately lead to knee pain, hip pain, and back pain. If you’re plagued by problems associated with your bunion, surgery is the solution.
You just don’t like them
You don’t have to wait for a bunion to hurt or damage your other toes or joints before addressing it. Since we live in Louisiana, we’re blessed with warm weather for much of the year. That means you could wear sandals and other comfy footwear practically year-round. Except you don’t like the way your bunion looks.
Bunion surgery is always your choice, not ours. You decide whether you can’t tolerate the look or feel of your bunion anymore. If you have gait problems, however, or other issues that are caused by the imbalance in your MTP, we may strongly suggest surgery.
Are you ready to put your best foot forward, bunion-free? Contact The Foot Institute: Angelo Morreale, DPM in Shreveport, Louisiana, today to find out if surgery is the right solution for you.