The Basics you should know before a Bunion Surgery

If you have long been suffering from foot pain due to bunions, you may be considering surgery as a feasible option. However, you should know you could get relief from bunions more often by taking appropriate medicines, in consultation with an experienced podiatrist.

Changing your footwear can sometimes be helpful. If all other options fail, surgery remains the only solution to get rid of this foot pain once and for all.

If you are decided on a bunion surgery, make sure you have gathered enough information about the procedure. Given below are a few such basic details you should know before the surgery. 

Suitability for bunion surgery

Age is not really a serious issue for this foot surgery. Anyone can undergo this operation, provided they are in good health. The following foot conditions indicate strongly the surgical option:

• Difficulty while walking or carrying out regular activities
• Pain while wearing shoes
• Inability to move the big toe properly
• Constant swelling of the big toe
• Failure of anti-inflammatory drugs in providing relief
• Bending of the big toe towards the other toes in severe cases

Preparing for the surgery

The first step to bunion surgery is a proper consultation with an experienced podiatrist, who has already conducted successfully several such operations. You should provide the surgeon with your medical history, giving critical health information, if any, of diabetes, heart or lung disease, allergies etc.

The doctor may ask you to do a few clinical tests like X-ray, electrocardiogram, and routine blood tests. Inform the podiatrist about the medicines you take. Usually the doctor instructs you how to get prepared before the day of surgery. 

Risk factors

Just like any surgery, bunion operation has its share of risks too. You may have prolonged toe pain/irritation, which arises due to insertion of hardware during the surgical procedure.

The operation may leave you with complications such as over/under correction, stiffness of the big toe joint, prolonged swelling/infection and nerve problems. Moreover, the most disheartening point is that bunion tends to recur after a few years in spite of a successful surgery. 

Recovery after the surgery

Generally, the recovery time varies from two to six weeks or even more. If you expect that your foot would retain its prior-to-surgery scarless look, then you will not be happy with the outcome! Mostly the operation leaves you with an unpleasant bump on the side of your toe, which is not easy to hide. In addition, you will suffer some discomfort or other after the surgery.

A detailed discussion with the foot specialist is necessary for you to be fully aware of what it means to undergo a bunion surgery, and to have a realistic expectation about its outcome. Clarify with the podiatrist all the issues that keep worrying you, get satisfactory answers, and then only should you decide on and proceed with the surgical procedure.