The big toe can be the cause of much pain when suffering from a bunion. A bunion, is typically thought to be an enlargement of the bone or tissue around the joint at the lower portion of the large toe, but is actually an angular deformity. Sometimes the large toe may even overlap the toe next to it. This is called a ‘crossover’ toe. The bunion sufferer may be plagued with a very swollen and tender joint. Having a bunion makes it very difficult to walk at times and also to wear shoes. The person afflicted with a bunion may even need to wear larger shoes than what they normally would wear. This then may cause other problems with the rest of the foot due to ill-fitting shoewear. When the bunion pain worsens and begins to disrupt his or her lifestyle the bunion sufferer will often seek out medical help for their problem. Listed below are five ways to get rid of bunions and put an end to bunion discomfort.
5 Ways to Get Rid of Bunions and Live More Comfortably
After attempting to relieve the bunion pain with conservative treatment many individuals with a bunion or bunions may elect to have surgery so that they can continue their lifestyle and enjoy the activities to which they are accustomed. There are five relatively common methods to ‘remove’ that can be accomplished with surgical intervention. After carefully evaluating the foot with the bunion, a surgeon will decide which option is the best one for each particular patient. Treatment is very individualized and the surgeon will be able to determine the best path to follow for her patient based on her experience and training. Listed below are five ways to get rid of bunions that your surgeon may consider.
Surgical Procedures for Your Bunion
The five surgical methods to remove bunions that are commonly utilized include:
- Tendon and Ligament Repair of Great Toe: When the tissues are improperly balanced the great toe tends to lean in toward the other toes. This is corrected by lengthening the tissues that are too tight and shortening the tissues that are too loose. There are many muscles and ligaments in the foot and these all have complex attachments and relationships. Your surgeon will determine the best balancing method to use for your foot.
- Arthrodesis: An arthrodesis is performed using hardware to hold the toe in place after surgery. In this procedure the damaged joint areas are removed. This is also known as a ‘fusion’. Basically, two bones that normally have a joint between them are made into a single bone that will not move. This surgery is used when the other surgeries have not been effective, such as in the cases of a severe bunion or extremely arthritic conditions of the great toe.
- Osteotomy: A very common and effective method to correct the angular deformity of a bunion is to use an osteotomy. This procedure is accomplished by cutting and realigning the bones in the foot that are out of place or misaligned. Through osteotomies your surgeon can correct angular and positional deformities of the foot very effectively. Usually metal implants are required to hold the bone in the better position while it heals.
- Arthroplasty Resection: In the older patient an arthroplasty resection is one of the traditional ways to get rid of bunions that is used most often. This is also performed in patients who have had bunion surgery done before or that are suffering from extreme arthritis. The arthroplasty procedure essentially removes both sides of the joint and allows scar tissue to grow in place; this reduces pain and allows motion. There are also joint replacement implants that can be used to straighten the toe and treat the arthritis at the same time.
- Exostectomy: An exostectomy is performed by removing the arthritic area on the affected great toe. In most cases of arthritis, large spurs or exostoses grow; these are painful and cause pain with shoes and activity. This is one of procedures that is sometimes used to get rid of bunions that have no inward turning of the toe. This procedure alone is not often done, as it does not address the real cause of the bunion. However, in certain cases, your surgeon may determine that this is your best option.
These five ways to get rid of bunions have offered many people surgical relief from their bunion discomfort. With moderate adjustments in lifestyle and shoe style these five ways to get rid of bunions have given people a new outlook on life by allowing them to continue to enjoy all of their previous activities. As with any surgery, there are risks and benefits and success is not guaranteed. The procedures should be discussed in detail with your surgeon.
Sources
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bunions/basics/treatment/con-20014535
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bunions-treatment-overview
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00140
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· However, in certain cases, your surgeon may determine that this is your best option.
