Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. Blahd Jr. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative.
This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico. Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Overview Medicare Coverage Options. Individuals and Families. Health and Wellness.
Wellness Library. Bunions: Should I Have Surgery? Get the facts. Your options Have bunion surgery. Don't have surgery. Try other treatment for bunions. Key points to remember Surgery for bunions usually isn't done unless you have already tried other treatment and it did not relieve your pain. Other treatment includes wearing shoes with lots of room for your toes and using pads and supports in your shoe for protection and comfort. Surgery may be right for you if your toe is too painful, if your bunion is very big, or if you can't easily do your daily activities.
It's not clear how well bunion surgery works or which kind of surgery is best. How well the surgery works depends on how bad your bunion is, the type of surgery you have, and your surgeon's experience. Your expectations will play a big role in how you feel about the results of surgery. If you want surgery mainly to improve the way your foot looks, you may be disappointed.
What is a bunion? What are the risks of bunions? Some people are embarrassed by how their bunion looks. What are the types of bunion surgery?
Types of bunion surgery include: Removing the part of the foot that is bulging out. This procedure is called exostectomy or bunionectomy. Realigning the tissues around the big toe joint. Making small cuts in the bones of the foot and moving the bones into a more normal position. Removing bone from the end of the first metatarsal bone.
Both the big toe and the metatarsal bones are then reshaped. Fusing the big toe joint. The surgeon removes part of the joint so the bones join together, or fuse.
Fusing the joint where the metatarsal bone joins the mid-foot. Implanting all or part of an artificial joint. How well does bunion surgery work? What are the risks of bunion surgery? You may still have problems with your toe after surgery, such as: Pain and swelling. A toe that is stiffer and less flexible. A bunion that comes back. A shorter big toe, if bone was removed during surgery. Numbness, tingling, or burning in your toe from damage to the nerves. An outward or upward bend in your big toe.
Other problems that can occur after bunion surgery include: An infection in the tissue or bone of the foot. Side effects from anesthetic or other medicines used to control pain and swelling. Damage to the tendons that pull the big toe up or down.
Joint disease arthritis or problems with blood supply to bone tissue. A callus that grows on the bottom of the foot. Why might your doctor recommend bunion surgery? Your doctor may suggest surgery if: You have tried other treatment and it has not worked to relieve your pain. You have severe pain or a severely deformed foot that prevents you from doing your daily activities. Compare your options. Compare Option 1 Have bunion surgery Don't have surgery.
Compare Option 2 Have bunion surgery Don't have surgery. Have bunion surgery Have bunion surgery The procedure takes about an hour, depending on the type of surgery. It is usually done in an outpatient clinic.
You may need 6 weeks to 6 months to recover from surgery. Complete healing may take as long as 1 year. You may need a walking cast or splint.
The AOFAS system uses a hundred point scoring system and can also be applied to other conditions and injuries that affect the foot and ankle. In most cases, bunions can be effectively treated without surgery.
However, if your bunion is getting in the way of your normal activities, surgery may be the best option to restore the structure of your foot. Signs that you may need foot surgery to correct your bunions include:. You should consult with your trusted podiatrist about the best treatment for bunions and to determine if surgery is the best option to address your condition. At Nagy Footcare, we usually perform minimally invasive bunion surgery , also known as a bunionectomy. The outpatient procedure is performed by making a very small incision directly on top or side of the big toe joint through the skin to the bone to remove or realign the bone or soft tissue without damaging the soft tissue.
This is done to relieve pain and restore normal alignment to the joint. While bunions can return after surgery, this elective procedure is the only way actually to remove bunions. At Best Foot Doctor, we work with patients frequently that are tired of their bunions and want to have them removed.
Below are six questions that we ask them to consider before choosing to pursue bunion removal surgery. For surgery to be a viable option for you, the pain that your bunions cause should be higher than a three on a scale of Bunion surgery is not recommended for individuals under 18 years old, as this can have adverse effects on bodies that have not fully developed. However, if you are over 18, you may consider surgery as an option for relief from bunions. If you are consistently active, such as being a frequent runner or participating in sports, and bunions are in constant pain, surgery might be the answer you are seeking.
However, if you are active on only a limited basis and bunions are not heavily interfering with your daily activities, it may be wise to forgo surgery in favor of following a pain management and prevention treatment system with your podiatrist. Is the reason you are seeking surgery to improve the look of your feet? For example, suppose your bunion pain does not heavily interfere with daily life, but you are uncomfortable with the appearance of your feet.
In that case, you may consider surgery to relieve the mental stress of less-than-pleasing foot aesthetics.
0コメント