If you are one of the millions of people who have the most commonly treated foot problem, bunions, you may already be considering surgery. Surgery is a viable option when non-surgical treatment options recommended by a podiatrist do not relieve bunion pain. When walking and doing normal activities become a painful burden, getting one of the 100 plus surgeries that are available for bunions can improve your quality of life more than any other option.

Yes, you heard right. There are over 100 bunion surgeries, and your podiatrist will be able to find the one specific to your condition. There may even be two separate procedures done at the same time. Typical bunion surgery includes an incision in the top or side of the big toe joint and then removal or realignment of soft tissue and bone. If the joint is severely deformed, tiny wires, stitches, screws, or plates may be used to stabilize it. Commonly, before the surgery a patient is given regional anesthetic that only affects the foot, but some podiatrists may use a sedative. The surgery usually takes around one hour, but it depends on what kind of procedure you are getting. Normal recovery time is generally between 6 weeks and 6 months, and your podiatrist will give you instructions to allow the incision to heal properly within your recovery period.

When a successful bunion surgery is performed, you will be able to walk with less pain in the big toe joint. In addition, when the incision heals and the swelling goes down, the toe in most cases will look more normal than before. One mistake people make after their surgery is returning to high heeled shoes, which could have been the reason for their bunions in the first place. If you follow the directions of your podiatrist, you may never have a bunion problem again.

If you have painful bunions that affect your everyday life, it is time to call Quality Foot Care at 215-230-9707 to consider surgery. Dr. Lefkowitz will give you a consultation in his Doylestown office to determine what kind of procedure, if any, you need. Make the call today for better foot health tomorrow!