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Home Cure and surgical treatment for bunions

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Home Cure and surgical treatment for bunions

What causes bunions?

So, how can you tell you have bunions? If the joint that connects your foot with the big toe has a swollen, painful bump, chances are high that you have a bunion. Actually, the enlargement seen on the big toe usually results from the misalignment of your big toe joint. Bunion formation is caused by many different things. The most common cause of which appears when you have abnormal biomechanics such as foot overpronation. Bunions can also result from previous sprains, nerve injuries, fractures, low muscle tone, and loose ligaments. Besides these, it has also been noted that genetics plays a very crucial role in an individual’s susceptibility to the formation of a bunion; the risk of getting one is increased if some of your family members have suffered from it before.
Medical experts have also reported that rheumatoid arthritis and gout are closely associated with bunion formation as well. Existing bunions can also be made worse by wearing poorly fitting shoes. Wearing high heels can cause a lot of strain on your toe joint since most of the body weight is pushed onto the front parts of your foot. Fortunately, there are many different types of treatments that can help in containing this condition including home cure and surgical treatments.

Home cure for bunions

Non-prescription medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken to reduce bunion formation. If taken as per the recommended doses of your doctor, they can really help in easing the discomfort and pain in the big toe. Foot elevation can also help to reduce the inflammation and the pain, which can also be eased by applying ice to the painful joint. In addition, bunions can be cured at home by using orthotics, bunion pads, and arch supports. When these are put on the bottom of your feet, they greatly help in weight redistribution and take much of the pressure from the big toe.
Wherever possible, it is recommended that one uses custom-made shoes that fit properly and, alternatively, one can also ease the discomfort by using shoes that have a relatively bigger space for toes. Make sure that there is adequate space between the shoe end and the tip of your longest toe. Good shoes that are roomy enough to accommodate all the toes comfortably help a lot in dealing with bunions. Sometimes, you should also make a point of switching closed shoes with sandals so that you can expose the painful part of your foot.
In addition, it is essential that you avoid engaging in activities that exert more pressure on your foot, particularly the big toe. Pads or foam rubber found inside shoes are yet another very effective means of treating bunions and contribute greatly towards bunion relief.
Bunion surgery
Even though there are many alternative/home care treatment options for bunions, you should keep the fact in mind that bunion surgery is the only definitive cure for this condition. If you leave a bunion untreated, it is likely to get much bigger over time and will also cause more pain. Surgery plays a very important role in fixing the big toe alignment and is usually the best option especially when other alternative treatments fail to provide the best results.
Before bunion surgery, the patient will go through a series of medical tests that help to assess their overall health. Such tests usually include blood tests, cardiopulmonary clearance, and x-rays and the surgeon will also look at your medical history as well. Bunion surgery is performed when the patient is fully or mildly sedated and local anaesthesia will be used in most of the cases. It is highly advisable that you go for the surgery in a good orthopaedic clinic where an expert, well experienced podiatric surgeon will attend to you.
On average, bunion surgery usually lasts between one or two hours and this will depend mostly on the extent of the deformity and how serious the condition is. Where the deformity is much more severe, the surgery could be more intensive. After the surgery is over, it is essential that you take good care of your foot to avoid compromising your healing process. In most cases, your big toe should be able to recover completely between 3 and 6 months after bunion surgery. More care should be taken to ensure that the bones heal properly and to prevent a recurrence of bunion formation. There is also scarless bunion surgery, which is a good option to consider for anyone seeking a virtually painless but effective treatment option for bunions.

For more information about Bunions

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