A Bunion is a structural deformity involving the first metatarsal, causing a painful bump on the side of the forefoot near the great toe.
Bunions form when the big toe rotates sideways towards the second toe. The first metatarsal shifts in the opposite direction, gradually changing the angle of the bones that make up the great toe joint.
This produces the characteristic bump accompanied by redness, soreness, pain, and stiffness in the joint.
Bunions can develop from several causes. This includes genetics, foot injuries, repeated stress on the foot, or a deformity that’s developed since birth.
Certain kinds of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to the formation of bunions. Shoes that are narrow, tight, or pointed-toe, can also contribute to developing worsening bunions. Improper footwear will force the big toe inward, and place increased pressure on the first metatarsal, causing a bunion to progress more prominently and rapidly over time.
At Gotham Footcare in NYC bunions can be treated to increase your self-esteem by eliminating the visual deformity on your foot, allowing you to feel more comfortable barefoot or wearing sandals.
It can also relieve pain, irritation, and swelling and restore function to your foot. Most importantly, removing a bunion helps you avoid a wound forming, which can cause serious infection. This is particularly a serious issue for someone with a medical condition such as diabetes.
Bunions may be mild, moderate, or severe in deformity. Gotham Footcare can treat all types of bunion deformities. This condition is usually associated with footwear or repeated stress, such as from running or dancing.
Bunion with Skin Irritation
Your bunion may not just include pain from the protrusion, there may also be skin irritation in the form of redness, sores, and peeling skin. This can lead to serious infection if not treated correctly. This happens most often when someone has a bunion but continues to wear tight or closed footwear.
Bunion with Hallux Limitus
This kind of bunion limits the flexibility in your big toe joint, and possibly the rest of the foot. It’s caused by the arthritic forming on the top of the base and within the joint of the big toe instead of the side. It can make the big toe jam up, reducing full mobility and causing pain.
Large Bunion
As the name implies, large bunions usually stick out the most from your foot, making it difficult to find shoes that fit. It can also cause more pain, discomfort, or loss of function than smaller bunions, and may need surgery to treat.
Tailor’s Bunion
There are also smaller bunions - bunionettes - that can form on the outside or top of your little toe. Your pinky toe will begin to change direction and a bony protrusion can also form.
There are both non-surgical and surgical options for treating your bunions, based on how severe the condition is in your foot and if you have underlying health issues, such as poor circulation.
In the case of formation of a mild bunion NYC patients can try non-surgical methods such as changing shoes and altering your workouts. For larger bunions or those with skin irritation, surgery may be the best option for removing the bunion and further damage to the foot.
It’s best to discuss your concerns with a medical professional and carefully review what is needed to treat your bunions before deciding which course of action to take.
Depending on the severity of the bunion, a correction occurs with a variety or combination of different methods involving bone shaving, bone cutting to realign and fixate the bone into its anatomically correct position, and/or bone mending by fusing the bone at the joint with screws or plates.
The gold standard correction for bunions regardless of incisional approach is to cut, realign, and fixate the bone into its anatomically correct position. At Gotham Footcare, the doctors perform the highest standard in bone realignment techniques with an emphasis on minimal scarring. The surgeons are trained to create a minimally invasive incision on the side of the foot rather than the top to directly visualize the bone. Our Doctors implement plastic surgery techniques to ensure that the cut heals invisibly.
Not only does this allow the surgeons to perform this procedure to the highest gold standard, but it also promotes minimal scarring, which is essentially the most optimal technique in minimally invasive bunion surgery. At Gotham Footcare, your New York City bunion surgery provider will have a thorough and in-depth discussion with you regarding which procedure will best accommodate your individual needs and expected outcomes.
If you have a bunion deformity, it is possible to live pain-free without any difficulty with your daily activities. However, if you do experience chronic pain or trouble standing or walking or are simply bothered by the appearance of your foot, you may want to consider bunion surgery.
To find out if the best option for you is bunion surgery NYC patients will need to come to Gotham Footcare for a consultation to establish eligibility. Call or email to set up your appointment.
Recovery from Bunion Surgery
Bone takes 6-8 weeks to heal after surgery, which allows most patients to return to normal shoes in 6 weeks and resume more aggressive exercising at the 12-week point. Due to advanced hardware and improved surgical techniques, bunion correction is an effective way to alleviate pain associated with bunions and allow you to return to your extracurricular activities within a relatively short period of time.
Results from Bunion Surgery
Once your foot has healed, you will see a visible difference in how your foot looks compared to before surgery, particularly if you have avoided wearing shoes that show off your feet.
More importantly, you should now be pain-free when you participate in your regular activities. In some cases, bunions can develop again, so it’s important to take care of your feet by carefully following all doctor instructions to prevent any future problems.
Bunions may not also cause you pain or discomfort, their appearance may bother you, causing you to feel ashamed and wanting to hide your feet.
Other times, your bunions may grow large enough to keep you from full mobility or even finding a pair of shoes to fit. Bunions can also turn into serious conditions that can cause further damage to your feet. To find out more about your bunions and review a proper diagnosis, contact Gotham Footcare in New York City.
One of the medical professionals will examine your bunions and review your medical history before recommending a unique treatment plan. Call or email anytime to set up your consultation.
Conservative care can slow down the progression of a bunion and should always be attempted first. However, only surgical correction can permanently fix this condition. Eventually, a mild bunion deformity will progress into a moderate to severely sized bunion.
If you have a painful bunion deformity that you have been unable to alleviate through non-surgical methods, then bunion surgery may be your final option to get rid of the pain. While not all bunions are painful, it’s especially important to monitor them if you have a medical condition such as diabetes, in which case a bunion can cause an open wound that struggles to heal.
Not really, as you will be numb after the surgery. Once the anesthetic has worn off, you may take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to help give you relief if needed. You will ice and elevate your foot as much as possible the first week after surgery and you will be required to wear a surgical shoe for 6 weeks.
In most cases, the answer is yes and much more comfortably than before surgery. There are many pumps and dress shoes that could be worn if it weren’t for the bump on the inside contour of the foot. With bunion surgery, the width of the foot will be reduced as the great toe joint is aligned, which will also allow for greater motion of the toe.
Most insurance providers cover most if not all of the cost of Bunion Surgery. If you do not have insurance and you think that you may need assistance with payment, their financing options available, so make sure to ask about this during your consultation.
At Gotham Footcare in NYC, we strive at recognizing your individual needs and desired outcomes while formulating an effective and personalized treatment plan with the highest quality care available.
What sets Gotham Footcare apart from other podiatry offices is our dedication to providing you with the education you need to make well-informed decisions regarding your care. Regardless of what your foot and ankle trouble may be, at Gotham Footcare our team will work tirelessly to help you feel better. At Gotham Footcare, we help you put your best foot forward.
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