Bunions are bumps that occur around the joint of your big or small toe. They are, however, bones that grow outward and change direction. Additionally, this development can create swelling in your soft tissue, which is why some bunions appear red and irritated.

Bunions are frequently caused by pressure on the bones. It might be due to ill-fitting footwear, or due to your heredity and poor foot mechanics. Bunions are more common in those who have flat feet.  It can also lead to hammertoes, because the growth of a bunion can change the shape of your toes. In fact, the pressure could be due to a combination of your body structure and the shoes you’re wearing.

The source of pressure frequently affects both of your feet. As a result, many people who have a bunion on one foot will also have a bunion on the other. Since they’re usually uncomfortable and make it difficult to fit into shoes, you’ll want to address those bunions before they worsen and cause even more issues.

We may be able to repair your bunions without surgery if I see you early enough. To minimize unpleasant rubbing, early interventions include cushioning your bony bumps. We can also help you get fitted for orthotics. These can help you fix biomechanical issues that are causing your bunion to develop. As a result, your bunions are unlikely to get much bigger. They won’t go away, though, because surgery is the only technique to get rid of bunions.

Surgery for Bunions

You might be very uncomfortable if you have bunions on both of your feet. So it’s not surprising that you’re considering bunion surgery. Or that you’d want me to operate on both of your feet at the same time.

After all, correcting a bunion involves a major time commitment. So having both feet operated on at the same time seems reasonable. Unfortunately, in my Houston podiatry practice, such rationale is not accepted. Because, while some physicians may find this convenient, I do not. In fact, like many of my colleagues, I strongly oppose it.

You might wonder why you should resist convenience. Here’s the deal: when it comes to bunion surgery, there are a lot of options. Before I operate, I’ll take an x-ray of your foot to determine the best course of action.

The treatment method I use will be determined by the location of your discomfort and the rotation of your bones. Whatever happens, I’ll straighten your big toe and realign your metatarsal bone. That implies that when I operate on your bunion, I’ll have to create a surgical fracture in your bone. Because this is a medical procedure, your broken bone will be stable thereafter. But it doesn’t imply that putting too much pressure on your fracture won’t make it worse. That is, in fact, a serious possibility.

To avoid this issue, we provide post-operative guidelines particular to bunion removal. Following surgery, we must keep your foot elevated to minimize swelling. We’ll also apply a bandage on your foot, and it must be kept clean and dry for several weeks after your procedure. When we operate on two bunions at the same time, things might become complex.

Bunion Surgery Post-Op Care

The majority of my bunion patients are able to walk immediately after surgery, because I’m going to place a protective boot on your foot. Although you’ll be wearing a boot, you’ll still need to take extra care of your foot.

It’s easy to care for one foot following surgery, but doing the same for both feet at the same time is significantly more challenging. Plus, if I operate on both of your feet, your mobility will be limited after surgery.

Do you see why I advise against undergoing both bunion operations at the same time? If not, allow me to state it clearly. You might not like the outcomes if we treat both of your bunions at the same time. Because sometimes you get a great result and a bad one. If this happens to you, you’ll almost certainly need revision surgery in the future. And I’m sure no one wants that. Wouldn’t it be better to achieve two excellent results instead? Even if two separate bunion surgeries are required?

Don’t put off getting your bunions checked if you’re experiencing pain! We can explore non-surgical approaches when we treat bunions early. And this will determine whether you require surgery or how restricted you will be throughout your rehabilitation. That option appeals to you? Don’t wait for your bunions to become worse. Instead, make an appointment with the Houston foot doctor at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center right now. We’ll examine your bunions and devise a treatment plan that is both quick and effective!