3 Bunion Questions Answered for You to Be an Informed Patient
Posted on: 5 January 2017
Bunions can be among the most common problems that people will develop when it comes to their feet. Despite bunions being a fairly common problem, patients are often uninformed about this issue after they first develop it. Making informed choices about treating this potentially painful foot problem will require you to improve your knowledge and understanding about this particular health problem.
How Does a Bunion Impact Your Ability to Walk?
A bunion is essential a bony growth that forms at the base of the big toe. This growth can force the toe to turn to the side, which can make it extremely painful to walk or stand for long periods of time. This pain occurs because the weight of the body will be improperly distributed due to the toe's misalignment. Unfortunately, bunions will typically worsen as time progresses, and this pain may eventually make it extremely difficult for you to walk long distances or stand for more than a few minutes.
What Is Needed to Cure Bunions?
Unfortunately, some individuals will spend a large amount of money and time using homeopathic bunion cures that are largely ineffective due to the fact that this problem is a bony growth that is developing. Once a bunion has formed, the only option for curing it will be to have it surgically removed. During this process, your podiatrist will likely use a powerful laser that can vaporize the excess bone around the toe. After the bony growth has been removed, the toe's alignment and range of movement should restore itself in the following weeks. Bunion surgery may sound like it will be exceedingly painful, but most patients will experience little more than mild discomfort and swelling during the first few days following the procedure.
What Are the Steps for Preventing Bunions from Forming?
Due to the disruptions that bunions can cause and the inconvenience of having them removed, you will likely want to know the steps for minimizing this risk from returning. While some of the factors that may put you at risk of developing this problem are genetic, there is a simple step that may greatly reduce your risk of developing this problem.
Wearing loose and comfortable fitting shoes is one of the most important steps for preventing bunions. When you wear shoes that are too tight or that are improperly fitted to your foot, you can put pressure on the toe joint. This pressure can eventually lead to the formation of a small bunion, which will grow over time.
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