Your big toe carries roughly half of your weight each time you take a step. And any pain in your big toe might make it difficult to move about or to even get a decent night’s sleep.
There might be several causes for the discomfort in your big toe. Here are some typical reasons why it may be bothering you, as well as remedies that may help ease the discomfort.
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.
is becoming a popular option for treatment that started with the Kramer osteotomy and K-wire.
Why should you consider minimally invasive bunion surgery Houston? Minimally invasive surgery is preferred for mild and moderately painful bunions since
it facilitates easier recovery. For severe bunions, patients undergo open surgery to fix the symptoms of the condition.
The term minimally invasive encompasses a variety of incisional approaches and bunion correction methods. The techniques have been evolving over the past decades.
Best bunion surgeons successfully execute realignment using minimally invasive techniques. Depending on the severity of the bunion, several correction methods are used,
such as realignment osteotomy (bone cutting and bone shaving) or fusion that is bone mending.
Podiatrists use specialized equipment that allows bony correction through small incisional portals made on the skin of the foot.
Minimally invasive bunion surgery Versus bunionectomy
Use of high speed, small cone-shaped bone burs to shave and cut the bony segments, while bunionectomy uses large flat bone saws.
Tiny incisions made during the surgery allow quick recovery while bunionectomy is open surgery that takes significant time to recover.
Experience less after surgery pain that goes away after a short period, allowing you to back to your activities,but after a bunionectomy, you need physical therapy to build strength in your joints.
A short operative and recovery time while for bunionectomy you might not be able to walk for a few weeks.
Minimally invasive procedures offer bunion correction with minimal trauma and disruption of the overlying soft tissue and skin.
Are you the best candidate for minimally invasive bunion surgery?
When conducted by the best bunion surgeon, most bunions can be corrected using minimally invasive techniques. Moderate bunions are easy to correct,
as compared to large and small bunions. Large bunions might require stable fixation and translations, while small bunions pose a challenge orienting the surgical hardware.
A minimally invasive procedure is ideal for active and healthy patients although these surgical procedures are not the best for every bunion patient.
Arthritic patients may require different surgical procedures. Smoking is not a contradiction in bunion surgery; however, it might delay the bone healing process after surgery.
For patients with osteoporosis, the bone quality might require a restrictive postoperative course.
Are there potential complications?
Minimally invasive procedures are not immune to post-surgical complications. Some complications are more amplified, while other complications have fewer effects.
Other bunion surgery complications include infections, recurrence, regional pain syndrome, and joint stiffness.
A minimally invasive realignment with screw fixation has fewer complications and superior outcomes, making it the best bunionectomy procedure.
The techniques and procedures, continue to evolve due to the emergence of new surgical screws and specialized instruments.
Houston bunion surgery today allows tiny incisions, walking recovery, and an easy recovery process.
Also referred to as Hallux valgus, it is a painful bump which is bony and it develops in the big toe joint inside the foot. Besides, one can suffer from a tailor’s bunion which forms alongside the fifth metatarsal alongside the little toe. The development is slow, gradually changing the structure of the bones and the pressure causes the toes to lean towards each other.
Who’s prone to the development of a bunion?
Greater prevalence is in women because of the belief that they wear narrow, tight shoes that squeeze the toes, which favors the development of a bunion. The problem can be exacerbated because the body’s weight is pushed forward and the toes are forced in front. However, narrow shoes are not the underlying cause of developing bunions.
They also run in families, especially among people with flat feet, low arches, tendons, and loose joints are more prone to bunions.
The shape of the top of the first metatarsal bone is also a determinant because if it is too round it is more likely to deform upon squeezing.
Some occupations require lots of standing, dancing, and walking such as nursing, ballet dancing, and teaching. People in these occupations are more susceptible to bunions.
Pregnant women are more likely to develop bunions because hormonal changes cause the feet to flatten and ligaments loosen.
Arthritis patients are at a higher risk of developing bunions because it damages the cartilages within joints.
If you are looking for some expert advice on bunions, you may want to seek help from a podiatrist. Feel free to contact our office to make an appointment with our podiatrist. Our foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale will provide you with the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet
Relieve pressure off the foot bunion by wearing the right shoes that are wide with enough room for toe movement. Good shoe choices include shoes made from soft leather, sandals, and athletic shoes.
Wear low heeled shoes not higher than an inch.
Protect the bunion with a gel-filled pad or moleskin; they are readily available at drugstores. Have spacious shoes to accommodate the pads.
Wear shoe inserts (semisoft orthoses) that will correctly position the feet.
Wearing a splint at night eases discomfort and holds the toe straight.
Use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, warm soaks, and ice packs to relieve pain. Cortisone injection temporarily reduces inflammation.
Massage, ultrasound, and whirlpool may provide relief.
Bunions can be removed via a surgical procedure to correct the deformed area; the procedure is known as a bunionectomy. There are different types of removal procedures which will remove the bunion and realign the big toe. A specialist determines the kind of procedure that should be done depending on how it developed and the size.
You are eligible for surgery if
Bunion pain restricts you from accomplishing daily activities.
Even after medication and rest, the big toe remains swollen and painful.
If you cannot bend or straighten the big toe.
There are three main procedures a surgeon performs
Osteotomy where the big toe joint is cut to realign in a normal position.
Exostectomy where the bunion is removed without doing an alignment.
Arthrodesis where the surgeon replacing the damaged joint metal plates and screws in a bid to correct the deformity.
After a bunion removal, full recovery can take at least four months.
Keep track of the shape of the feet as they develop. Exercise the feet by picking small objects with your toes to strengthen them. Avoid high heels and wear shoes that fit properly without cramping your toes together. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Cypress, TX. Our Cypress office can handle all of your foot and ankle issues. We will provide you with the latest diagnostic and treatment methods for all bunion related issues.
Hammer toe can be defined as a condition of foot deformity meaning a painful foot condition in which the toes curl and arch up that leads to heavy pain when wearing footwear. Hammer toeusually affects the second and third toe of the feet.Hammer toe can be diagnosed by doing a set of physical examination of the feet.
Cause of Hammer Toe
Most commonly a hammer toe occurs when the middle joint of the toe becomes bent or flexed downwards.
Hammer toe is bound to give an uneasy discomfort while walking. It causes unbearable pain if intended to stretch the toe.
Bending toe
Calluses or corns
Toe looking like claw
Inability to flex the toe
Adapting difficulty in walking
Is surgery required for hammer toe?
Hammer toe surgery can never be the primary option. Hammer can be of different categories it may cause mild or severe. If there is severe hammer toe then hammer toe surgery is required. The best way to judge is to visit a doctor as soon as you feel uneasy.
Hammer toe surgery should be opted out in these basic following options
Active infection
Poor health condition
Poor blood circulation in the feet.
Doctors prescribe Hammer toe surgery in severe conditions such as joint toe fusion and joint resection or even if you have swollen toes.
Hammer toe surgery is considered to be the least choice left for any hammer toe patient. Therefore it is of utmost importance to meet a doctor as soon as possible because a mild hammer toe condition can also lead to serious mishaps. In case the doctors recommend doing a Hammer toe surgery then it may be simply out of a failure in responding to treatments.
How can hammer toe be treated?
Hammer toe can be cured by wearing appropriate footwear and wearing properly fitting shoes. Mainly the high arch toe condition is caused by wearing toe pads that do not fit better. Correct toe pads shift the toe position that relieves the toe for getting overlapped from pressure.
Hammer toe treatment can be done using over the counter cushions, bunions, corns, and medications. Applying over the counter creams provides relief to blistering infections, and an ice pack can be used as Hammer toe treatment as well.
Preventive measures for hammer toe
Hammer toe problems in most cases have found out to be either from family history or chronically using tight pointed shoes.
Eventually, a hammer toe can be avoided by taking certain stringent changes in your daily routine.
Must avoid wearing shoes that are tight and narrow or don’t fit well. An especially woman who wears heels up to 6 inches must cut it down to 2 inches.
Choose shoes that are much wider from the tip that gives you ½ inch between the end of the longest toe and inside the tip of the show.
Bunions
Also referred to as Hallux valgus, it is a painful bump which is bony and it develops in the big 
