1. Off With the Bump
It's been there awhile that bump alongside your big toe. You know it's a bunion. It has all the classic signs. Your big toe is red, swollen and painful. Corns and calluses appear between your first few toes. Wearing your regular shoes, even walking, is difficult and relief is nowhere in sight. Enough is enough. That bump has got to go.
2. Talk to the Doctor
Have your doctor explain bunion removal surgery so you know what to expect. It starts with a local anesthetic that targets only your foot. Sometimes a sedative is required. The surgeon makes an incision above, or alongside the joint of your big toe, and then removes or adjusts the soft tissue and bone. This alleviates pain and discomfort and straightens your joint. Small wires, stitches, screws or plates anchor seriously malformed joints. The surgeon then closes and bandages the incision. The one-hour bunion removal surgery is an outpatient procedure.
3. Serious Surgeries
There are hundreds of bunion removal procedures, because everyone's bunions are a little different. The seriousness of your bunion and your surgeon's experience determine the best surgery for you. Look for a doctor experienced in multiple procedures. The most common types of bunion surgery are: a bunionectomy to eliminate the bump; realigning the ligaments surrounding your big toe; arthrodesis to fuse the joint; Lapidus, which fuses the bulging bone with the mid-foot; inserting an artificial joint and an osteotomy, which takes out a small piece of bone from the big toe or foot.
4. Risky Business
As with any surgery, bunion removal is risky. Have your doctor review the risks involved. They include infection, adverse reaction to anesthesia, bleeding, nerve and/or tendon damage, recurring pain and inflammation, calluses, limited range of motion, a bend in the toe, arthritis, a diminished big toe and a persistent bunion. Certain risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, some chronic conditions, substance abuse and lack of proper nutrition, increase the likelihood of complications.
5. The Aftermath
Expect to spend anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months recovering from your bunion surgery. Elevate your foot for the first few days or longer if you notice swelling. Apply ice packs every 15 minutes to reduce inflammation and alleviate any pain. Stitch removal is within 1 to 3 weeks and pin removal usually several weeks later. Generally, it takes a month before you can don regular footwear. Until then you may need a splint, walking cast, crutches, walker or special protective shoes. Once your incision heals, participate in physical therapy and light exercise to regain flexibility. Contact your doctor if you experience fever or chills, increased pain, bleeding or discharge from your incision, nausea, coughing, chest pain and/or shortness of breath.
