What is Bunion? How to Get Rid of Bunion

The majority of people suffering from bunions experience relief from pain using simple remedies to ease tension on the toe's big. This includes wearing larger shoes or using pads inside their shoes. If these options aren't enough to alleviate the symptoms, your physician might recommend surgery for bunion.

There are various types of surgeries that can correct the bunion. Restoring the big toe into its normal position could involve realigning bones, ligaments as well as tendons and nerves.

Are You a Candidate for Surgery?

If your bunion doesn't hurt there is no need for surgery. Although bunion tends to grow with time doctors don't suggest surgery to prevent bunion pain from getting worse. A lot of people can slow down the development of a bunion through appropriate footwear and other preventive measures as well. The bunion is never a source of creates pain or other complications.

It is also crucial to remember that bunion surgery should never be performed solely for cosmetic reasons. Following surgery, it's possible that pain continues to be felt in the toe affected even though there was no bunion-related pain prior to surgery.

Candidates for bunion surgery who are good typically include:

A significant foot injury that restricts the activities they do every day, like walking and wearing sensible footwear. It may be difficult to walk for more than a couple of blocks (even wearing athletic footwear) without significant discomfort.
Chronic inflammation of the big toe and swelling that won't get better with rest or medication
Toe deformity: a gradual movement of the toe's big one in the smaller ones, which creates the possibility for the toes to cross one another.
Oe stiffness - the inability to bend or raise the large toe
Inability to find relief from pain by changing shoes
Inability to get relief from pain from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) for example, naproxen and ibuprofen. The efficacy of NSAIDs in reducing pain from toes is different from person to.

Deciding to Have Bunion Surgery

When bunion surgery is completed, many patients feel less pain on their feet and are more at participating in daily activities.

When you are considering bunion surgery, be aware that "simple" or "minimal" surgical techniques are often not as effective "quick fixes" that can cause damage rather than benefit. While many bunion surgeries are performed on a day-to-day basis without hospitalization and a long recovery time is normal. It can take up to six months to fully recover as well as follow-up visits with your doctor occasionally lasting up to one year.

It is essential to be realistic about bunion surgery. For instance the bunion surgery might not permit patients to put on a shoe that is smaller size or narrow pointed shoes. In reality, you might have to limit the kinds of shoes you put on throughout your life.

If you are considering bunion surgery, don't hesitate to ask your physician questions regarding the procedure as well as your recovery. Some good questions to ask are:

What are the advantages and risks of this procedure?

What might be the possible problems and how likely is it for them to be able to
What will the amount of pain be, and how can it be controlled?
Make sure you write down the answers to your doctor's questions to help you remember them later. It is essential to comprehend the possible benefits and disadvantages associated with bunion surgeries.

Surgical Procedure

The general objectives of bunion surgeries are:

Aligning the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint at the top of the big toe.
Helping to relieve the pain
Correction of deformities in the bones that make up the foot and the toe.
Because bunions are different in both shape and size There are a variety of surgical techniques used to improve their appearance and function. Most of the time bunion surgery involves fixing the bone's alignment and also repairing the soft tissues surrounding the big toe.

The doctor will discuss with you regarding the kind of procedure that will fix your bunion.

Repairing the Tendons and Ligaments Around the Big Toe
In some instances the soft tissues surrounding the big toe might be tightly on one side and excessively loose in the opposite. This can cause an imbalance that leads the big toe move towards the other toes.

Surgery is a way to reduce loose tissues, and lengthen those that are tight. This procedure is usually done with an bone alignment known as an osteotomy. In most cases it is only one aspect of the bunion correction procedure.

Osteotomy
An osteotomy is when your doctor makes tiny cuts within the bones in order to align the joint. After cutting into the bone, the doctor repairs the new fracture with screws, pins, or plates. The bones are straighter as well as the joint properly balanced.

Osteotomies are performed at various places on the bone to correct deformity. In some instances as well as cutting bone, a tiny wedge of the bones is taken out in order to give enough correction to straighten the foot.

As previously mentioned the majority of osteotomies are done in conjunction along with other soft-tissue procedures since both are necessary to keep the alignment of the big toe.

Arthrodesis
In this process your doctor will take off the joint surfaces that are arthritic before inserting wires, screws or plates to secure the joint surfaces in place until bones heal. Arthrodesis is often used to treat those suffering from severe arthritis or bunions as well as for those who have had prior failed bunion surgeries.

Exostectomy
In this method your doctor will remove the bump that is in the toe joint. Exostectomy is not the only option for treating bunions as it isn't able to align the joint. Even when it is combined with soft tissue treatments, exostectomy is not able to correct the root of the bunion.

Exostectomy is usually done as one component of a complete corrective procedure which includes osteotomy and soft-tissue surgeries. If a surgeon performs exostectomy with osteotomy the bunion deformity typically is recurred.

Resection Arthroplasty
The procedure involves having your doctor will remove the damaged part from the joint. This opens up the space between bones and forms a malleable "scar" joint. Resection arthroplasty is primarily used for those who are old or have undergone previous unsuccessful bunion surgery or severe arthritis that isn't compatible with Arthrodesis (see the previous paragraph). Since this procedure may alter the force of push off of your big toe it's not recommended often.

Preparing for Surgery
Medical Evaluation
Prior to your surgery it is possible for you to visit your doctor to undergo a thorough physical exam. They will examine your health and determine if there are any issues that might affect the surgery. If you suffer from a lung or heart condition or have a chronic illness, you'll require a prior medical authorization from your physician of choice.

Medications
Discuss with your doctor any medication you're taking. The doctor will advise you what medicines you can keep taking and which ones you should not take prior to surgery.

Tests
There are a variety of preoperative tests, such as cardiovascular tests, blood pressures and chest x-rays. It is also possible to submit the urine sample.

To aid in planning your procedure the doctor can request special foot x-rays. These x-rays should take place in a standingand in a weight bearing position, to ensure that your doctor is able to clearly observe the foot's deformity. The x-rays aid your doctor to make decisions on where in the bone is best to perform an osteotomy, in order to offer enough force in order to straighten your toe.

Your Surgery
In determining the best time to have surgery your doctor will be considering many factors like how severe the bunion is, age, general health and level of activity as well as any other medical conditions that could affect the healing process.

The majority of bunion surgery in Perth is performed as an outpatient. It is likely that you will be required to attend the surgical center or hospital two or three hours before the surgery.

Anesthesia
Once you are admitted, you will be assessed by one of the members of the team of anesthesia. The majority of bunion surgeries are performed by an anesthesia that numbs the surgical area however it does not make you sleepy.

Local anesthesia. An ankle block will numb your sole.
Regional anesthesia. A popliteal block operates for a longer duration of time than an ankle block, and it is more numbing for the leg. The medicine that numbs the leg is administered into the joint behind.
Anesthesia for the spine. This injection will make your body numb below your waist.
General Anesthesia. This form of anesthesia puts you to sleep.
An anesthesiologist is alongside you throughout the process to administer additional medications should they be required, and to ensure that you're at ease.

Procedure
Depending on your bunion and the procedure you require to undergo, your doctor may make an incision either on the inside of the big toe joint, or over the joint. In certain cases multiple incisions is required to correct the bunion defect.

The time for surgery varies based on the extent to which your foot is misaligned. Surgery may take longer in the event of a greater deformity or when there is more than one osteotomy has to be performed. Each bunion correction procedure will be a little different and there's no reason to worry when your procedure takes longer time.

After that, you'll be taken to the recovery area. Then, you'll be able to return home within one or two hours. Make sure you have someone to take you back home.

Complications
Like any other surgical procedure there are risks with the bunion procedure. They are rare and generally treatable, however in certain cases, they can limit or delay the recovery process. Prior to your procedure the doctor will talk through all the risks with you, and will take specific steps to prevent complications.

The potential dangers and complications that can arise from surgical bunion include:

Infection
Nerve injury
The inability to alleviate the pain
Inability of the bone to heal completely
The big toe joint is stiff. joint
The bunion is recurrable.
Recovery at Home
Success of the operation will depend on the way you adhere to the instructions of your doctor at home for the first couple of weeks after the surgery. Your doctor will visit you often for several monthsat times even for a full yearto ensure that your foot heals in a timely manner.

Dressing Care
You will be released from the hospital in bandsages that hold your toes in their corrected position.

As the proper positioning of your toe is vital to healing, it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions regarding dressing care. Don't alter or disturb the dressing without speaking to your physician. Infringing on the healing process could cause a recurrence or recurrence to the bunion.

Make sure you keep your dressing and wound clean. If you shower or bathing, wrap your feet with the plastic bag.

The sutures are removed approximately 2 weeks after surgery, however your foot will require support with braces or dressings for between 6 and 12 weeks.

Medications
The doctor may prescribe pain medications to ease post-surgical discomfort. The most effective medication to provide post-surgical comfort are painkillers. They are narcotics but they are also addictive. It is essential to take opioids as directed by your physician.

When your pain improves and your pain is less severe, discontinue using opioids. Consult your physician to determine if your pain hasn't started to decrease within a few weeks of the surgery.

Alongside pain medications, Your doctor might also prescribe antibiotics to prevent the infection of your wound for a few days following surgery.

Swelling
Maintain your foot as high as you can during in the initial few days following surgery. Apply an ice pack as directed by your doctor to ease pain and swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. It is normal to experience some swelling on your feet between 6 months and one year following bunion surgery.

Bearing Weight
Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions on how and when you should place weight on your foot. Based on the kind of procedure you are undergoing and the procedure you are having, if you place the weight of your foot too in the beginning or do not have adequate support, your bones may shift and the bunion treatment will disappear.

Certain bunion surgeries allow patients to walk on their foot immediately following the procedure. In these instances, patients will require the appropriate surgical shoes to guard the bunion's correction.

Some procedures for bunion require a few weeks that is weight-free to aid in the healing of the bone. Your doctor will use braces, dressings or a cast to keep the proper bone position. They are typically used to keep any weight off to the sole of the foot. A brand newer type of device, referred to as the knee walker is an option to replace crutches. It is equipped with four wheels, and acts as an electric scooter. In lieu of sitting, place your knee of the affected foot on a cushion and then push yourself forward using your foot that is healthy.

Additionally, if you are not able to lift weights the vehicle may be restricted until your bones have been properly healed, particularly in the case of surgery on your right foot.

Whatever type of bunion surgery you undergo it is crucial to follow the instructions of your doctor regarding weight bearing. Do not place your foot in a position that is weighty or cease using any supportive devices until your doctor has given you his approval.

Physical Therapy and Exercise
Certain exercises can help restore your foot's strength as well as a range of movement after surgery. Your physical therapist or doctor might suggest exercises with surgical bands that strengthen your ankle, or using marbles to restore movement in your toes.

Start slowly and be sure to follow the directions of your physical therapist or your doctor on repetitions.

Shoe Wear
It may take some time for your bones to completely heal. After you've completed the initial phase of rehabilitation Your doctor will guide you on the appropriate footwear. Soft leather or athletic shoes Oxford-type shoes are the best to safeguard the bunion until the bones are fully healed.

To prevent the bunion from returning Do not wear trendy shoes until your doctor permits the use of such shoes. Be aware that your physician might recommend that you never wear high heels again.

Avoiding Complications
Although uncommon, complications could develop after bunion surgery. In the course of your recovery you should consult your doctor in the event of:

Your dress gets looser, falls off, or becomes wet.
The dressing is moistened by the blood or drainage.
There are side effects that can result from postoperative medication.
Also, make sure to contact your doctor right away if you are noticing any of these indicators of the infection:

Persistent fever
Chills shaking
Redness or warmth that persists on the dress
Persistent or constant pain Particularly a "sunburn" type of pain
There is significant swelling in the calf region above the treated foot, particularly when there is a "charley horse" pain behind the knee, or you experience breathlessness.

Outcomes
Most people who have bunion surgery notice less the pain in their feet, as well as an improved position of their large toe. The time frame for your recovery will be determined by the procedures carried out, and on how you follow the directions of your physician.

The main reason for bunion deformity is a snug-fitting shoe, reverting to the same type of shoe could result in your bunion be re-infected. Follow your Foot Surgeon in Perth advice to ensure that your shoe fits properly.