Health & Fitness
Brooklyn, New York, 11212
Although surgery is the only way to fix a bunion, it may not be the best treatment option for you if you can sufficiently reduce your deformity’s pain and pressure through other means. We like to think about bunion treatment as a three-stage process; we recommend starting with the first and only moving to the next when your current strategies aren’t providing enough relief. Stage One: Home Care If your bunion is small and only causing occasional pain, you can usually manage it with simple at-home care. The most critical component of treatment at this stage is footwear. Avoid high heels or narrow shoes, and instead stick with roomy, comfy shoes with a complete toe box and low heels. Other steps to help minimize bunion pain at this stage include: Buy over-the-counter moleskin pads and place them on your bunions in the morning, before you put on your shoes. Soak your feet in warm water (along with some Epsom salt) at the end of a long day. Maintain a healthy body weight—more pounds equal more pressure on the feet. Stage Two: In-Office Conservative Treatments When home remedies aren’t working, we can help you with additional measures to manage the pain. The goal at this stage is to help you walk comfortably and enjoy everyday activities without impairment. Options include: Custom orthotics or special shoes Night splints Cortisone injections Physical therapy exercises to help maintain joint mobility. Removal of any existing corns or calluses Stage Three: Surgery Suppose you’ve tried the stage two treatments and are still experiencing pain that prevents you from living the lifestyle you want. In that case, it’s likely time to consider surgery. Severe bunions (such as those where the big toe has already started “crossing over” the second) will typically require this stage of treatment. Surgical approaches may vary based on the nature and severity of the bunion. Common procedures include: Osteotomy: Bones in your big toe are cut, then realigned, and fixed in place with hardware (pins, screws, etc.). Exostectomy: The enlarged bony bump is removed. Since this does not realign the toe, it is usually combined with an osteotomy. Resection arthroplasty: The damaged, arthritic tissue in the big toe joint is removed, leaving an empty, flexible space that can bend like a joint. Bunions only get worse with time, so don’t wait until the pain is excruciating, or you can’t fit into your favorite pair of shoes to seek help! Instead, call the Advanced Foot and Ankle Centers of Illinois. We have seven offices conveniently located throughout the Chicagoland area to serve you!
