Bunions: the answers to the questions

Posted: January 28th, 2021

The biggest misconception of Bunions when patients come into the office as new patients is the belief that they are caused by bad shoes (high heels). This for the most part is untrue and are usually hereditary.  However, they can progress faster in bad shoes. Patients with Bunions are born with the gene given to them by their mother's side of the family or their father's side of the family.

Of course, the factor of pronation the motion that your foot goes through as you ambulate can accelerate the progressive nature of Bunions over years. This motion of pronation can be controlled by wearing more arch supportive type of shoes, and staying away from flats, sandals, and all other similar shoes. The condition of Bunions are equal in Women as it is in Men, however it is more problematic in women because of the types of shoes they commonly wear.

When patients complain of pain it usually is on the side of the Bunion wear the shoes place pressure upon it.  Specifically, because of the proximity of a nerve that rides along the side to your big toe. This pain for most of the time is constant.

Bunions are a deformity of the foot and can be treated conservatively or surgically. Conservative care consists of accommodative shoes (wide toe box or giving material) and orthotics (arch supports). However, when patients become symptomatic and the Bunion alters their lifestyle then the deformity should be addressed. Deformities of the foot like Bunions require surgery to fix them.

There are many different ways Bunions can be fixed surgically according to the severity of the patient's Bunion. However, with the advancements and changes in our specialty of Podiatry there is a new technique that fixes a Bunion in more of an anatomical alignment compared to the most common ways of the past and current that some foot surgeons still do. One of these new procedures is called the Lapiplasty Bunionectomy.

Please read the banner "Lapiplasty" at the top of the website.

If the pain persists, do not hesitate to contact us or fill out an appointment request to schedule a full assessment.