Bunions: Fact Vs Fiction

By:


A bunion is a deformity of the great toe joint that causes the big toe to move toward the little toe and sometimes underlap the toe next to it. Usually, bunions are progressive and tend to get more accentuated creating a larger bump over time. As this happens, pain usually increases and activity and shoe gear choices become more limited. Patients that suffer with this condition become frustrated and are often confused about the best treatment for them.

Bunions are hereditary. Fact The leading cause of bunions is heredity. While it is true that shoes and trauma can also cause bunions, these are by far less frequent causes.

The only way to make bunion pain go away is with surgery. Fiction There are many options for conservative treatment of bunion deformities. Using wider shoes with a square toe box instead of round or pointy, physical therapy, anti inflammatory medication, joint injections and orthotics are some of the ways to control pain and discomfort and possibly slow down or even stop the progression of the deformity. However, the only way to correct the deformity is with surgery.

Bunion surgery is painful. Fiction Corrective bunion surgery has come a long way in the past few years. With advances in surgical materials, procedures and techniques, bunion surgery can be virtually painless.

Patients have to be off of their feet for several weeks after bunion surgery. Mostly fiction Most commonly performed bunion procedures allow for immediate weightbearing in a surgical shoe or boot. This allows the patient to ambulate on their own, and in most cases, patients are back in regular shoes in 4-6 weeks.

A store bought orthotic can relieve the pain. Mostly fiction Orthotics are much like eye glasses. If you by reading glasses or orthotics in the store, there is a small chance that they may help your problem; however, a custom made orthotic designed by a podiatrist addresses the specific needs of patients with bunions, since this a very unique deformity and no two people's feet are alike, and can be effective in slowing down or halting the progression of the deformity.

While bunions are pretty common, there is still a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to the care and treatment of this condition. If you suffer from bunion pain, it is a good idea to find a good podiatrist website with a lot of good information or visit a podiatrist for a consultation to see what options you have to relieve your pain. Most patients are pleasantly surprised to find out that all of their friends and relatives were wrong about bunions - they aren't as difficult to treat as they thought!

About the Author:
Dr. Marco A Vargas is a board certified podiatrist specializing in the treatment of bunions, heel pain, sports injuries and nail fungus. He has offices in Sugar Land, TX and Richmond, TX. For more information on his practice or to order your free copy of his book "Got Foot Pain?" which he wrote on general foot health, visit http://www.thebuniondoc.com.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Health Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.