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Your Top 10 Questions about Bunions

Foot and Ankle Specialist, Dr. Kevin Moore, answers your top 10 questions about bunions

Boney bulge on the side of your foot? Are the sides of your shoes consistently getting ruined by the shape of your foot? You may have bunions. Foot specialist Dr Kevin Moore talks about bunions

Foot specialist Dr Kevin Moore talks about bunions

What is a bunion?

A bunion is a deformity characterized by lateral deviation of the great toe. Bunions are sometimes developed when the pressures of bearing and shifting your weight fall unevenly on the joints and tendons in your feet. Bunions are painful and can worsen over time, so it is important to seek advice from your foot and ankle specialist on treatment.

Can they be treated?

Yes, bunions can be treated both conservatively and surgically. For information about all of the options available to you, see your foot and ankle specialist.

Is there anything I can do at home to help with the pain and/or development?

You can try wearing shoes with a wider toebox. Pad the affected area with silicone, moleskin or lambs wool – anything soft that will cushion the area.

What causes bunions? Are they genetic?

For the most part, the development of bunions are associated with genetics and biomechanics. In most cases, it is not affected by your activity but instead has more to do with the laxity of your ligaments.

Will it get worse over time?

Your bunion will most likely get worse over time with age and ligament laxity. Bunions happen over the course of years unless there is some type of trauma or injury.

How can I prevent them?

Find out if you are genetically predisposed to having bunions, then meet with your foot and ankle specialist to determine a proactive treatment plan. Also avoid narrow shoes.

Will it require surgery?

Sometimes, depending on the severity of the deformity. Surgery is always decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the patient’s goals and concerns. If you are not comfortable with surgery, your foot and ankle specialist should be able to help you develop a more conservative plan.

What’s the recovery time for surgery?

Most patients are looking at approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

When can I walk on my foot again after surgery?

It depends on what type of procedure and the nature of your deformity and correction, but it can be anywhere from five to eight weeks.

How painful is the surgery?

Pain is experienced differently in each person, depending on how he or she perceives pain. Most patients who elect to have bunion surgery feel that the benefits outweigh the potential for pain. Dr. Kevin Moore is a foot and ankle specialist at Piedmont Orthopaedic Complex. Dr. Moore treats a variety of foot and ankle issues, including bunions, plantar fasciitis, wound care, laser toenail therapy and more.