Bunions are a bone deformity that appears as a large bulge on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe. This happens when there is a structural issue within your foot that causes the toe to move out of the correct placement. There is no cure for bunions besides surgery, but there are ways to manage symptoms with conservative methods. When bunions continue to cause pain, your podiatrist may recommend bunion surgery. There are different types of bunion surgery your podiatrist might recommend and it’s important to understand the differences. Dr. Daniel Waldman at Blue Ridge Foot Centers in Asheville, NC, can explain bunions and different types of bunion surgeries.
Understanding Bunions and Bunion Surgery
When you’re dealing with bunions, you might experience pain from blisters that form from friction. You might also experience soreness after being on your feet for a prolonged period. When conservative methods don’t help ease the symptoms you associate with bunions, your podiatrist in Asheville, NC, might recommend bunion surgery.
There are 3 common types of bunion surgery techniques that your podiatrist might use. These include:
- Exostectomy- This is when your podiatrist shaves off the bunion. This is usually only done for minor bunions.
- Osteotomy- During this procedure, your doctor will make a few incisions in the bone and realign the joint that caused the bunion to form in the first place. This is the most common form of bunion surgery and is often combined with exostectomy.
- Arthrodesis- If you experience arthritis, this can often lead to bunions. Your doctor will remove any parts of the joint that have arthritis and this is done with severe bunions.
Recovery with all procedures will take a few months and you can expect to rest the foot and avoid putting any weight on it until it is completely healed.
Contact Your Podiatrist Today
Make sure you understand what type of bunion surgery you can expect. Contact Dr. Daniel Waldman at Blue Ridge Foot Centers in Asheville, NC, to learn more about bunions and how they can be dealt with. Call (828) 254-5371 today or at blueridgefoot.com.