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Can I Treat Bunions Without Surgery?
Bunions first appear as a small lump that gradually transforms into a large, painful bunion. While that doesn't mean you're headed for surgery, undergoing a minimally invasive procedure is the only way to eliminate the problem.
Our Specialized Foot and Ankle Care team offers personalized care that relieves your symptoms and helps you avoid surgery. Here's what you need to know.
How bunions develop
Bunions develop when pressure pushes the top of the big toe toward your second toe. This movement forces the bone in the joint at the toe’s base to move outward, creating a lump on the side of your foot.
As the pressure continues and the bone moves further out of alignment, the bump enlarges, the joint becomes inflamed, and your skin may turn tender and red. These symptoms can cause severe pain, make it difficult to wear shoes, and result in further problems like bursitis.
You’re more likely to have bunions if you:
- Inherit a structural instability
- Have a faulty gait or poor foot mechanics (flatfeet or your foot moves improperly)
- Sustain a foot injury
- Have an inflammatory joint condition like arthritis
- Participate in dancing, athletics, or other activities that put pressure on the big toe
Tight shoes, high heels, or footwear with pointed toes also place excessive stress on your big toe, raising the risk of forcing it out of position.
Early bunion treatment
When we diagnose bunions at an early stage, we can take steps to ease your symptoms and stop the bone deformity from progressing to an advanced stage that might demand surgery.
Many people can avoid bunion surgery with one or more of the following treatments:
Footwear
Switching to shoes that ease the pressure on your toe is the first step. We recommend the best size and shape and may suggest certain shoe types or brands, depending on the bunion’s severity and your symptoms.
Shoe padding, orthotics, and splints
Protective pads reduce pressure on the bunion when you’re wearing shoes. You may only need inserts from the local pharmacy, or we may prescribe custom orthotics. Orthotics can cushion the bunion and remove joint stress by holding your toe in a straight position.
Wearing a splint while you sleep relieves pain while holding your toe in its natural position. However, neither splints nor orthotics can repair bunions.
Medications and injections
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relieve your pain and reduce swelling in the joint. You may need a corticosteroid injection if you have severe swelling or your inflammation doesn’t improve with NSAIDs.
Activity changes
You may stop the bunion from worsening by limiting or avoiding activities like prolonged standing and athletics that put too much pressure on your big toe.
Signs you need bunion surgery
Bunions only get worse over time. They don’t heal or improve without surgery to realign the bones and repair the ligaments and tendons.
You can put off surgery until your symptoms become intolerable despite nonsurgical care. Here are four signs it’s time to consider surgery:
1. Pain persists
Consult with us about the potential need for surgery when conservative treatments don’t relieve your pain, you have severe pain, or the pain stops you from standing or walking.
2. Shoes are unbearable
Wearing shoes may be unbearable despite padding, orthotics, or proper footwear. At that stage, surgery is the next step.
3. Gait and balance change
The big toe has an essential role in maintaining balance and providing leverage as your foot pushes off the ground. As a result, a bunion may interfere with daily activities by affecting your gait and balance.
4. New foot problems begin
Whenever you have a joint problem, the pain and swelling force you to change how you move. These changes put more stress on other structures and lead to new problems. For example, bunions often cause arthritis, bursitis, and hammertoe.
Take the next step
The most important step is scheduling a consultation and implementing the treatments that can help you avoid or postpone bunion surgery.
Call Specialized Foot and Ankle Care today or connect online to schedule an appointment. We’re here to assess your foot, answer your questions, and recommend customized bunion care.