When is it too late for bunion surgery?

If you wait until it is painful, usually the cartilage is absent and your joint is damaged, bone-on-bone, and it is too late to prevent surgery.

When are you too old to have bunion surgery?

There's no cut-and-dry rule regarding an age limit for bunion surgery. Seniors can visit a podiatrist serving the Sugar Land area to find out if the procedure might be right for them.

What happens if you don't get a bunion removed?

If left untreated, a bunion can cause arthritis, especially if the joint in the big toe has sustained extensive, long-term damage. Bunions may cause the cartilage in the joint to deteriorate. While bunions can be remedied through surgery, arthritis and the possibility of chronic pain are not curable.

Should I have bunion surgery if they don't hurt?

Surgery for bunions usually isn't done unless you have already tried other treatment and it did not relieve your pain. Other treatment includes wearing shoes with lots of room for your toes and using pads and supports in your shoe for protection and comfort.

Why is bunion surgery not recommended?

Bunion surgery is not always successful.

Prolonged swelling, infection, and deep vein thrombosis can result from this treatment. Some of the other possible complications include over- or under-correction, loss of correction, joint stiffness, and nerve entrapment.

When is the best time to undergo bunion surgery? Dr. Hobeychi, Podiatrist, answers your questions.

What is considered a severe bunion?

In severe bunions, the big toe may angle all the way under or over the second toe. Pressure from the big toe may force the second toe out of alignment, causing it to come in contact with the third toe.

Is bunion surgery worth having?

If a bunion is not painful, surgery is not usually recommended. Bunions often get worse over time, but surgery is not recommended to prevent bunions from worsening, and oftentimes, proper footwear and other preventive care can slow down the progression of a bunion.

How long should you stay off your feet after bunion surgery?

Post-Surgical Self-Care

You should keep your foot dry and stay off your feet for 3 to 5 days after your surgery. You should use a walker, cane, knee scooter or crutches to get around. Follow your doctor's recommendations exactly for any medications you have been given after surgery.

Are you put to sleep for bunion surgery?

It usually isn't necessary to have general anesthesia for bunion surgery. Some patients have the operation with just local anesthesia, which numbs the foot. Regional anesthesia is injected at the knee area to numb some of the leg above the foot. Spinal anesthesia eliminates all feeling below the waist.

Do bunions get worse with age?

Over time, the foot bones are squeezed into an unnatural formation causing damaged anatomy and pain. It's also a well-known fact that as we age, or gain weight, our feet spread and that worsens the problems already in place or triggers the development of bunions.

Can you live with bunions without surgery?

Talk with your podiatrist about surgical options. For many, bunions and the pain they cause can be effectively managed without surgery. But surgery is the only way to get rid of bunions.

Do bunions ever stop growing?

Once you have a bunion, it won't go away unless you have surgery. Prevent it from getting larger by taking good care of your feet and wearing the right shoes.

How can I shrink my bunions naturally?

How painful is bunion surgery recovery?

You will have pain and swelling that slowly improves in the 6 weeks after surgery. You may have some minor pain and swelling that lasts as long as 6 months to a year. After surgery, you will need to wear a cast or a special type of shoe to protect your toe and to keep it in the right position for at least 3 to 6 weeks.

How painful is bunion surgery?

Is bunion surgery painful? No, the surgery itself isn't painful. A local anesthetic will be used to numb your foot so you don't feel pain. You will also be given a sedative to help make you more comfortable.

What are the stages of bunions?

How long does it take to walk again after bunion surgery?

In mild to moderate cases of bunions, patients are allowed to be weight bearing immediately with the help of a knee scooter or surgical boot. They are also allowed to walk in a surgical boot /shoe. The time it takes for bones to set/mend in the corrected position generally takes six weeks.

Can I take my boot off to sleep after bunion surgery?

You will take the boot off to shower and to sleep. months following surgery. sutures will be removed and steri-strips (special Band-Aids) will be applied. These will remain in place for at least 3-4 days.

What should I do before bunion surgery?

Why does my bunion hurt all of a sudden?

When the base of the big toe abnormally points outward and the tip of the big toe points inward (toward the second toe), the condition is called hallux valgus. Hallux valgus causes a bunion. can cause sudden attacks in which the bunion becomes red, painful, and swollen.

Do bunions grow back?

Recurrence after bunion surgery is a possibility, but it is not common. However, when bunions do come back, they reoccur, but they do not regrow. That's because a bunion is not a growth of bone, rather a dislocation of the big toe joint.

Can you shave down a bunion?

Since a bunion is caused by a bone malalignment rather than a bone growth, simple bunion shaving has limited use in modern bunion surgery. However, surgeons routinely perform bunion shaving along with other bone realignment techniques and do not generally perform bunion shaving as an isolated procedure.

When should I worry about my bunion?

Although bunions often require no medical attention, schedule an appointment with your doctor, a podiatrist or orthopedic foot specialist if you have: Persistent big toe or foot pain that interferes with walking or daily activities. An overlap between your big toe and your second toe.

Why do bunions throb at night?

Throbbing bunion pain at night

It's bad enough that bunions can be extremely uncomfortable when walking or wearing shoes that fit too tight. On top of that, nerves being compressed by the bony growth often choose the nighttime to fire off, which causes soreness and throbbing.

How can I stop my bunions getting worse?

Steps To Keep Bunions From Getting Worse

Wear well-fitting shoes made of quality materials. Avoid footwear that crowds the toes and puts excess pressure on the joints. Shoes should have wide and deep toe boxes with good arch support and flatter heels. Athletic shoes and supportive sandals are best.