Everything You Need to Know About Bunions and How to Find the Right Podiatrist for Treatment

What are Bunions and What Causes Them?

Bunions are a common foot condition that affect millions of people around the world. They are
bony protrusions on the side of the big toe, which can cause pain and discomfort. In this article,
we will look at what causes bunions and how to treat them. We will also discuss some of the
common risk factors associated with bunions and how to prevent them from occurring in the first
place. Before we delve in, it is important to know that bunions do have a genetic predisposition,
meaning your chances of getting one are high if one of your parents had the condition. Some of
the risk factors for developing bunions are wearing high heel shoes, wearing shoes that are not
supportive, and wearing tight-fitting shoes that crowd the toes.

Common Symptoms of Bunions and When to See a Podiatrist

Bunions are a common foot deformity that can cause pain and discomfort. They are caused by an
imbalance of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the big toe joint. Common symptoms
of bunions include redness, swelling around the big toe joint, difficulty bending the big toe, and
pain when walking or standing for long periods of time. Often a bunion may present without any
pain; however, with any new activities or overuse, the pain may start and cause the patient to
suffer. In those cases a patient could treat the bunion conservatively so that the pain is controlled;
however, the deformity and the bump will continue to exist. Alternately, a surgical correction
where the bones are realigned and the prominent bump removed may allow the patient to fit into
normal shoes, walk without pain, and have improved stability. So to answer to the question of
when to see a podiatrist will depend on the severity of the patient’s bunion pain, how much the
pain is affecting his or her daily activity, and what the patient's goal is; in other words, what is
his or her expectation. Some patients may visit the podiatry office just to get temporary relief via
the conservative treatment such as receiving a cortisone injection in the joint, hoping that it will
get rid of the pain. Sometimes the cortisone shot could get rid of the pain.

Treatments for Bunions – Non-Surgical & Surgical Options

Bunions are a common foot condition that can cause pain and discomfort. Fortunately, there are
a variety of treatment options available for bunion sufferers, both surgical and non-surgical.
Surgical treatments have improved significantly in recent years: Patients now can return to
normal activities within a few weeks, whereas in the past, a patient had to be in a boot for 6
weeks or more to allow for the bone to heal. Thanks to new implants and improved research
involved in making the implants, surgical outcomes are more predictable and the recurrence rate
is smaller. One of the most common procedures for bunions that I like to perform on my patients
is called a Lapidus bunionectomy, which involves fusing the midfoot joints by removing the cartilage and using plates and screws. In my opinion, this procedure works better and the patient
outcome is better as well. Another recent improvement in surgery for bunions involves tri-planar
correction of a bunion since the deformity is present in all three planes and it's important to
correct the deformity in all three planes during the surgery. This procedure is becoming popular
among podiatrists because the implants are easy to use during the surgical procedure; in addition,
the patient will get better sooner because the implants are much stronger than previous ones, so
the patient could start walking again earlier. If you want to learn more about this procedure, you
could search online for "Lapiplasty”; the manufacturer’s website also has a lot of useful
information and videos.

How to Find the Right Podiatrist for Your Bunion Treatment

Finding the right podiatrist for bunion treatment is essential to ensure that you get the best
possible care. It is important to take some time to research and find a qualified podiatrist who has
experience in treating bunions. Not every podiatrist is trained to do bunion surgery. For example,
during my training in Northeastern Ohio, I was fortunate to learn about the Lapidus procedure
from one of the people who improved the technique and wrote many peer-reviewed articles in
podiatric literature. I have assisted on and performed surgical cases over the years where I
improved my skills. The more surgeries a doctor performs, the better he or she becomes. It's like
developing muscle memory. So if the patient wants to find the right podiatrist for surgery, he or
she needs to come to the office and ask any questions that he or she may have about the
experience, outcomes, post-operative steps, healing time, etc. Also, during the visit the patient
can confirm that the podiatrist he or she is seeing is competent, honest, and meets the patient's
expectations. Often visiting the provider's website and reading reviews from past patients can
guide the patient in the right direction.

Taking Care of Your Feet is Essential – Get Professional Help from a Podiatrist Today!

Taking care of your feet is essential for living a healthy and active life. Unfortunately, many
people neglect their feet until it’s too late and they are dealing with pain or injury. The best way
to prevent this from happening is to get professional help from a podiatrist. Podiatrists are trained
professionals that specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of foot-related issues.
They can diagnose any underlying issues you may have and provide the necessary treatments to
keep your feet healthy. Don't wait until it's too late – get professional help by calling Ankle &
Foot Care Center, Inc today at 562-399-5252.