Dr. Brandon James and Dr. Sarah James of Foot & Ankle Surgery of New Braunfels helps patients in New Braunfels, TX, and the nearby regions, with their feet health. And if you have a bunion, you may have pain and discomfort and feel embarrassed about its appearance. Fortunately, though, one of our practitioners can help, either through lifestyle advice or surgery, depending on the severity of your condition. However, you may have other questions, and we have some answers to the most frequently asked ones.
What's a Bunion?
A bunion will appear as a lump on the side of your toe. It's actually from a joint misalignment. This problem happens as pressure pushes on the joint and causes the toe to move out of its proper position.
You can tell by looking at the area if you have a bunion. It may also cause you to have pain or discomfort. In some cases, it may be difficult to bend your toe, that is if the joint is severely out of alignment.
Besides the bunions, you may also develop calluses or corns from this particular problem. This comes from the friction between your shoes and the bunion.
Are You at Risk?
Some people are more likely to develop bunions than others. For instance, your risk of this issue increases as you age. It can happen in either gender, but it's most often seen in women. In fact, we see more women at our office in New Braunfels, TX, and the general vicinity.
Your footwear can also place you more at risk. For instance, if you wear high heels, your chances of developing bunions are higher, though it's not a guarantee you'll have bunions. Poorly fitting shoes can also put pressure on the area, which can increase your likelihood of this problem.
Bunions can sometimes stem from genetic factors. For example, if you have a parent or grandparent with an abnormal foot structure, you could be more prone to this problem, including conditions like flat feet. Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases can elevate your risk of this issue.
What's the Treatment?
In some cases, we'll just educate you on measures you can take to make it more comfortable for you despite your bunions. Unfortunately, for some people when the condition is more severe, surgery is necessary. However, you'll have a trained surgeon from our practice performing it, and it's a relatively safe procedure, to begin with.
Foot & Ankle Surgery of New Braunfels, serving New Braunfels, TX, and the neighboring communities, offers different treatments for bunions and can determine the one for you.
Contact us at: (830) 387-4427.