What Is the Best Treatment Option for Bunions?

While some people have bunions that don’t present any symptoms, many others have bunions that are red, painful, and swollen. These worrisome bunions could be so painful that you’ll find it difficult to even put on a shoe or walk. Here at Foot and Ankle Institute of Colorado in both Colorado Springs and Monument, CO, our podiatry specialists, Dr. Matthew Hinderland and Dr. Jordan Cameron, offer surgical and non-surgical treatment options for bunions. It is, however, important to note that in severe cases, surgery is the best treatment option for bunions.

What are Treatment Options for Bunions?

Although surgery is the only treatment option able to remove bunions completely, you can do certain things to manage your symptoms and help stop your bunion from developing further. These nonsurgical treatment options include the following:

• Placing ample arch support in your footwear
• Taking OTC pain medications including acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen
• Wearing footwear with padded soles and enough space for your toes
• Having your podiatrist tape or pad your foot to encourage normal positioning to take the pressure off your bunion

If these nonsurgical remedies don’t work and your symptoms persist, you may be a candidate for surgery. The podiatry specialists at our Colorado Springs and Monument, CO, offices will evaluate your case to determine your eligibility for surgery.

There are different kinds of surgeries used for treating bunions, and it will be up to your podiatrist to decide which one will best fit your condition. Most surgical procedures, however, involve a bunionectomy. During a bunionectomy, your podiatrist will correct your big toe’s position by getting rid of a portion of the bone and swollen tissue from your bunion. While complete recovery from surgery could take as much as eight weeks, depending on the severity of your bunion, you may be able to walk right after the procedure.

Potential Complications from Untreated Bunions

Left untreated, a bunion could lead to irritation in your bursa, which is a fluid-filled sac responsible for cushioning your toe joint. When this happens, you’ll develop bursitis. This condition occurs when your bursa swells and becomes inflamed, causing tenderness, pain, and limited mobility of all your other toe joints. There’s also a chance that you might develop chronic foot or toe pain, a stiff toe, or worse, a foot or toe deformity.

Tired of Your Pesky Bunion?

With this in mind, if your bunion is limiting your mobility, causing you pain, and/or you have signs of infection or have diabetes, consult your podiatry specialists, Drs Matthew Hinderland and Jordan Cameron as soon as possible. Contact Foot and Ankle Institute of Colorado by dialing (719) 488-4664 to book your consultation at either our Colorado Springs office, or our Monument, CO, location.