Is Bunion Surgery Right For You?

A fracture is a broken bone. Any fractured bone requires several conditions to heal. First of all, the bone fragments must be in proper position to heal. An X-ray will determine if a fracture is displaced (the fragments are left in an abnormal position) or non-displaced. Even a non-displaced fracture needs stability to allow the pieces of bone to adhere together and fuse. If a fracture doesn't heal, it can cause long term pain similar to arthritis. Injured bone, like any tissue, also needs proper circulation to heal. Ensuring a bone fracture to heal is no different than ensuring a bone surgery to heal. Heel spurs are small calcium deposits that can grow on the bottom of your heel bone. People usually develop heel spurs with a condition called plantar fasciitis, which inflames the plantar fascia, the tissue that connects the foot bones to form the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis does not develop overnight but rather builds up gradually from repetitive stress. Severe plantar fasciitis may require surgery. You can help reduce and eliminate the pain of heel spurs by following a few steps. Podiatrists are medical doctors specializing in treatment of the feet. Although there is no set pricing, a podiatrist visit often costs less than a general practitioner's visit. Over the years your big toe joint can suffer damage from simple accidents like stubbing your toe in the middle of the right, dropping an object on your toe, and so many other things. Eventually, the cartilage gets damaged and is slowly destroyed. The first symptom of this destruction is limited joint motion. When we walk, our big toe joint should have about 65 degrees of motion. With joint damage, the amount of motion gets smaller and smaller and BAM! The pain hits you out of nowhere! All of a sudden you notice your big toe is stiff or rigid and oh so painful. Bunions are painful bony conditions that has an underlying condition called hallux valgus (change in the angle of the fist toe). You can be born with this, or it can develop over time due to improperly fitting shoes or an inflammatory condition like arthritis. It is important to monitor for other foot changes that can develop as well. Knowing the symptoms as well as simple home treatments can help to keep the pain down. Symptoms There is no single cause of a bunion. It may develop from arthritic joint destruction, overpronation of the foot, heredity, or from wearing ill-fitting tight shoes. Over-the-counter pain medications treat bunion pain from running in many instances. Ibuprofen, naproxen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, otherwise known as NSAIDs, are likely to be effective. An ice pack after a run reduces pain and inflammation as well, advises MayoClinic.com. If pain lingers, heat can be of benefit too. Doctor of podiatric medicine Terry Spilken, a faculty member of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, recommends heating pads and foot soaks in hot water with or without Epsom salt on MotherNature.com. Solution This is a very common condition that affects the base of the big toe. It occurs when the big toe gets pushed toward the second toe. Change your shoes. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends shoes with broad toes, wide insteps and soft soles. Never wear shoes that are too small, and check your shoe size every few years to make certain a size adjustment is not needed. Avoid wearing high heels and shoes with pointed toes, as both can cause or worsen bunions. Step 2 Take over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, as needed. These medications will reduce inflammation and minimize pain. Prescription medications are available if over-the-counter drugs are not strong enough to control your pain. Step 5 Stay off your feet. If running or standing up for a long time causes your bunions to flare, take steps to avoid those activities. Protect your feet as much as you can to keep bunion pain at bay. Step 6 Consider corticosteroid injections. Sometimes, the sac of fluid in the big toe joint called the bursa can become inflamed. An injection of corticosteroids can help ease that inflammation and alleviate bunion pain. Step 7 To diagnose the presence of any disorder in the body, it is necessary to observe the symptoms of that particular condition. Given below are a few symptoms that can be indicative of this distressing disorder.