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Posted By Outdoor Living Direct Pty Ltd on 28/04/2022 in News

Seeing a Podiatrist for Your Bunions

A bunion is where the big toe is deformed so that it sticks out to the side.  It happens when the joint in your big toes get pulled out of line.  The big toe is then turned toward the other toes on the same foot.  They look like a bony lump at the main joint of your big toe.  A bunion can call pain, inflammation, and calluses/corns.  This is one of the most common ailments that a person visits a podiatry Preston clinic.

When you visit the clinic the podiatrist Preston takes your medical history, does an examination, and then may do x-rays to look at the deformity.  The podiatrist will also assess the big toe and foot before recommending what treatment to use.  They will also check to see if there is an underlying cause for the bunion to occur.  They will generally start with non-surgical treats.  These can include:

  • Bunion pads
  • Special footwear
  • Splints
  • Ice packs
  • Orthotics are designed insoles to cushion your foot and help alleviate pain.
  • Medications

If your bunion does not respond to any of these treatments or is severe, you may need surgery to take care of the issue.  If they are left untreated, they can cause loss of movement in that toe, pain, and bursitis.

A bunion can be genetic as some are just prone to developing them or caused by an inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis.  They can also occur due to shoes that do not fit well or are too tight.  Some of the symptoms include inflammation and redness, tenderness and pain, the bump has calluses or corns, and there may be restricted movement in your big toe that is affected.

If the podiatrist northcote has tried other treatments and nothing worked, they may suggest surgery. There are many different surgical procedures that can be done to take care of this issue.  They may:

  • Remove the protrusion, which is either an inflamed bursal sac or bone.
  • Realign the bone of your big toe to fix the deformity.
  • Realign the cartilage, or cushioning, between the bones of your big toe.
  • Modification of the bone of your big toe can involve lowering, shortening, lengthening, or raising the bone.
  • Reposition any of the bones that are associated with your big toe and are responsible for causing the bunion.

If surgery is necessary, it will be done under local anesthesia in the podiatry Preston office.  The surgeries are very effective but are only considered if all non-surgical treatments do not work.  After the surgery, it is advised that you wear wider shoes, especially for women as they generally wear heels that are narrow and tight.  After surgery, it will take about eight weeks for your foot to recover so you will need to keep weight off this foot and use crutches. 

Conclusion

If you are experiencing bunion pain or pain in your big toe, visit your podiatrist to see if it is a bunion so they can devise a treatment plan to help relieve the pain and make walking and wearing shoes easier and less painful.

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