How painful is bunion surgery?
You won’t feel the actual surgery itself. For a mild bunion, your doctor may use a local anesthetic, so the only thing you’d feel would be the prick of the needle when the pain killer is injected. Moderate to severe bunions may require a longer and more invasive surgery, so your doctor may choose to use general anesthesia, which means you’ll be put to sleep for the operation. Whatever the case, you won’t feel it.
How long does bunion surgery take?
Less than an hour for each foot. The surgery is usually done 1 foot at a time and the actual operation takes less than an hour. The time can vary depending on how severe your bunion is. For a mild bunion, your doctor may start by removing the enlarged portion of bone. Then, they’ll realign the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the joint. If your bunion is more severe, your doctor may cut the bone and move it to its proper position before repositioning the surrounding tendons and ligaments.
How bad does a bunion have to be for surgery?
If you can’t easily do your daily activities, it may be time for surgery. Surgery is usually a last-resort option if other treatment options such as wearing padded shoes and supports haven’t worked. Surgery may be the best option for you if your toe is too painful, or your bunion is so big that it makes it difficult to get around throughout the day. Keep in mind that bunion surgery may not improve the appearance of your foot, but it can help relieve the pain.
What is the success rate of bunion surgery?
The short answer is that bunion surgery works most of the time. There are actually more than 100 different types of bunion surgeries that have been performed, and your doctor will choose the best approach for you and your bunion. The “success” of a bunion surgery can include multiple factors. For instance, your pain could be completely gone, but you may be unhappy with the way your foot looks after surgery. Work with your doctor to find the best surgical procedure for you to increase the likelihood of success.
What happens if you leave a bunion untreated?
They can become more painful and cause other problems. Unchecked bunions can become extremely swollen and the pain can travel up your leg and into your back and hip. It can also affect your other toes and cause them to become deformed. Eventually, you may have difficulty standing or walking. Untreated bunions can even increase the chances of you falling down and seriously injuring yourself. Don’t wait to treat your bunions. See your doctor to find the best treatment options for you.
How can I shrink my bunions naturally?
Take ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation. An OTC medication like ibuprofen has both anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. That means they can make your bunions hurt less and reduce the inflammation, which can make them smaller and less swollen.
Hold an ice pack on your bunion to reduce the swelling. Take an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas and wrap it in a clean cloth or towel. Hold the cold pack on your bunion for 5 minutes at a time. The coldness will reduce the pain of your bunions and shrink down the swelling. It’s a simple, natural way to control the size of your bunions.
Try to lose some weight to take pressure off of your bunions. Maintaining a healthy weight may help reduce pain and swelling caused by your bunions. Follow a healthy diet and try to exercise, but be careful not to do anything that further aggravates or hurts your bunions.
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