What Is A Bunion?
A bunion is a bony protrusion at the joint of your big toe. Bunions occur when the bones at this joint (the metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint) become misaligned. Bunions can be painful, impair your step, and cause other toes on your foot to move out of alignment too.
What Causes a Bunion To Form?
Although the exact reason that some people develop bunions is not entirely known, there are several factors that contribute to their development:
- Foot Type/ Structure
- Foot Stress and Injury
- Birth Deformities
- Certain Types of Inflammatory Arthritis, such as rheumatoid
- Not all experts agree, but there is some indication that tight, narrow, and high-heeled shoes can contribute to the development of bunions, for those who are predisposed.
Types Of Bunion Surgery
There are three surgical methods to treat your bunion:
- Osteotomy: realign the position of your big toe
- Exostectomy: removes the bunion only
- Arthrodesis: realigns your toe joint with plates and screws
Recovery from surgery will be similar for each.
Tips For A Safe And Healthy Recovery From Bunion Surgery
- Stock Up On Essentials: Many of us are used to moving around daily and picking up food, coffee, and other supplies around the city as we need. But winter weather is fickle and running out of necessities while recovering from bunion surgery in the wind, snow, and ice can be more dangerous. Stock up on food and other essentials before your surgery, so you are not left out in the cold!
- Get Help: Movement and mobility after bunion surgery is limited. This can be especially true in winter. Enlist the help of friends or family for at least the first few days after surgery to help you move around your home, prepare food, and attend to your personal needs.
- Play It Safe: You will likely be required to wear a surgical boot for some time after surgery. This can make walking cumbersome, but add snow, slush, and icy conditions and the risk of slips and falls increases. Ask for help when leaving your home. Try to stick to surfaces that are cleared of ice and snow, and consider using salt or sand when you have to navigate slippery sidewalk or road conditions.
- Stay Active: A run in the park or a SoulCycle class may be out of the question, but remaining active during recovery is essential to your healing and your mental and overall health. Move a little every day; try some yoga or stretching, take short walks in the hallways of your building, or sign up to begin physiotherapy once cleared by your podiatrist.
Expert Bunion Surgery With Our NYC Podiatrists
Living with the pain and impaired mobility caused by bunions is intolerable. But sometimes the thought of bunion surgery and the associated time to heal can be daunting. Winter is usually a time of natural slow down, more time spent indoors, and less hustle and bustle. If you are choosing to pursue a life free from bunion pain and discomfort this winter, follow our tips for a safer and healthier recovery.
Our expert team of NYC foot doctors can expertly assess your bunions and recommend the most ideal course of treatment to get you up your feet again. We provide accurate diagnosis and comprehensive foot and ankle care and have the tools necessary to provide a variety of tailored treatment approaches at each of our Manhattan Podiatry Clinics. If you are experiencing bunion pain or suffering due to any other foot or ankle condition pain, call To Healthy Feet Podiatry at 1-917-398-3668 or fill out the contact form to book your appointment at our Upper East Side, Downtown, or Midtown locations today.
FAQ
Q: How long will bunion surgery take?
A: Bunion surgery will typically take less than one hour. You will be released the same day to recover in the comfort of your own home.
Q: What causes bunions?
A: Bunions can be caused by many different factors. Bunions often run in families and can be caused by loose ligaments which allows your bone to float out of place over time. Additionally, shoe gear plays a role in the development of bunions as tight, pointy shoes and high heels put an unnatural biomechanical strain on the foot.
Q: Are bunions a growth of bone?
A: Most people think that bunions are a growth of bone. While a very small amount of bone can grow, bunions are when the bone called the metatarsal falls out of alignment. Instead of being straight, it drifts out and causes a prominent bump on the side of your foot by your big toe.
