Most bunions start out innocently enough — your big toe starts to lean toward your second toe, and a small bony bump forms on the inside of your foot. Since bunions are progressive, once this migration begins, it can keep going, and the bunion grows.
Estimates place the prevalence of bunions at about 20% of people. While many people don’t have issues with their bunions. However, when bunions cause problems, it explains why more than 350,000 bunion surgeries are performed yearly in the United States.
As medical providers specializing in all things related to feet, our Neuhaus Foot and Ankle team has experience helping people with problematic bunions. While surgery is only a decision you can make, we can outline what drives most of our patients to us for bunion surgery.
The leading complaint when it comes to bunions is pain. As the bony bump on the inside of your foot grows, it can encounter more pressure, which can lead to inflammation. When a bunion is inflamed, even the slight pressure of a sheet or blanket can be painful.
While an inflamed bunion is painful enough, bunions can also offset the balance in your feet, leading to other types of pain.
For example, you might start placing more pressure on the balls of your feet under your second toe, which can lead to bursitis that adds to your discomfort.
If your bunions have become painful, all we can do is address the pain. The only way to alleviate the root problem is through surgery.
Many people believe that a bunion is just that obvious bony bump, but the condition is far more complex. A bunion is caused when your metatarsophalangeal joint is out of alignment, which is what causes the shift in your big toe. The bony bit is a response to this shift in your joint.
The shift in your metatarsophalangeal joint can also lead to other issues in your feet as the bunion progresses and throws more of your foot out of alignment. As an example, developing hammertoes is common when you have bunions.
So, if you’re starting to develop other foot problems in response to your bunions, surgery might prevent a further cascade of issues.
While pain and discomfort are the primary reasons why people see us for a bunionectomy, they also elect for surgery for cosmetic reasons. If you enjoy showing off your feet, and you’ve been hiding them because you find your bunions unsightly, a bunionectomy may be your ticket back to sandals.
Whatever your reasons, we’re here to help. A great step in your decision-making is to see us so we can evaluate your bunions and provide recommendations. Contact one of our 18 locations in Tennessee to schedule a consultation.
