Posted by Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists on Wed, Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:27 PM
When bunions become an issue, learn abou tboth surgical and non-surgical bunion treatments. The Bellevue Bunion Center has more information about Bunions and Tailor's Buions. Find information about Buinon Treaments.
Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists
BestFootDoc.com
Did you know that we have developed a dedicated resource for heel pain sufferers?
SeattleHeelPain.com
Posted by Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists on Thu, Sep 15, 2011 @ 01:10 PM
Many people tend to postpone addressing painful conditions with their feet or ankles. Often, people believe that pain in their feet is just something they have to live with. Perhaps the most common complaint of our patients with persistent pain is bunions.
Bunions are generally progressive and the pain also increases with time. Many people wait too long to address the issue and continue to wear improperly fitting footwear that increases the sensitivity. When the pain becomes significant enough patients seek our treatment.
Non-surgical treatments are preferred by both doctor and patient, however as the bunion continues to progress untreated non-surgical treatments become less effective. If a bunion disorder progresses to the point when surgery is needed, what are the options?
Bunion surgery is an ambulatory procedure. This means that the procedure is performed in an outpatient setting (we perform these in our own ambulatory surgery center located in our office) and typically takes an hour or two to perform the surgery.
Initial evaluation including x-rays and a gait analysis will be performed. The 
surgery is typically performed with a local anesthesia and either Arthroplasty or Osteotomy is performed. These procedures will reshape or cut the protrusion and typically titanium screws are inserted. The surgical screws will hold the bones in the new corrected position and provide long term stability to the area.
The surgery in painless with minimal discomfort the during recovery period, which is treated with over the counter pain relievers. Dependent upon the severity and degree of correction, many patients are back on their feet in a few days.
What can be done to avoid surgery for my bunions?
Non-surgical bunion treatments mostly attempt to mitigate the pain associated with bunions. These include changing your footwear and specifically avoiding narrow or pointed shoes. Padding and taping will provide some cushion to the area and may reduce friction, swelling and sensitivity. Orthotics or shoe inserts can provide relief. Over the counter shoe inserts can be helpful, however the best orthotics are custom made, prescription orthotics. These prescription orthotics are made specifically to address your unique issues that many of the over the counter orthotics cannot address.
Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists
BestFootDoc.com
Did you know that we have developed a dedicated resource for heel pain sufferers?
SeattleHeelPain.com
Posted by Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists on Fri, Jun 24, 2011 @ 02:02 PM
What is a Bunion?
A bunion is often described as a bump on the side of the foot where the toe joint is. However, a bunion is more than that. The visible bump represents actual changes in the bony framework of the foot. This disorder causes the toe to “bow out” instead of pointing straight ahead.
What is a Tailor’s Bunion?
A tailor’s bunion is a bunion that occurs on the little toe where the metatarsal bone meets the little toe. Tailor’s bunion is a deformity caused when the head of the metatarsal is pushed outwards. The result is often a painful and swollen protrusion from the outside of the foot. It is also referred to as a bunionette.
The causes, diagnosis and treatments are similar for these two types of bunion. Treatment options that are specific to each kind of bunion can vary slightly depending on the severity and type of bunion. If you suffer from either type of bunion they should be evaluated by a doctor for recommended treatment options.
Causes
Bunions are a progressive disorder. They begin with a leaning of the big toe, gradually changing the angle of the bones over the years and slowly producing the characteristic bump. As the condition progresses, this bump will become increasingly prominent. Symptoms usually appear at later stages, although some people may never have symptoms.
Bunions are a common foot deformity that can be inherited or occur as a result of repeated stress to the joint. It is not the bunion itself that is inherited, but certain foot types that make a person prone to developing a bunion. Not wearing proper sized footwear that crowd one’s toes will not cause bunions, however it can contribute to the progression of the deformity. As a result, symptoms may appear sooner with improper footwear.
Symptoms
The symptoms will occur at the site of the bunion and may include pain, soreness, redness, inflammation or possibly a burning sensation. Symptoms occur most often when wearing shoes that crowd the toes, such as shoes with a tight toe box or high heels. This may explain why women are more likely to have symptoms than men. In addition, spending long periods of time on your feet can aggravate the symptoms of bunions.
Diagnosis
Bunions are easy to spot because the prominence is easily visible at the base of the big toe or side of the foot. However, to fully evaluate the severity of the condition, x-rays are used to determine the degree of the deformity and assess the changes that have occurred. Because bunions are progressive, they will not go away, and will become worse.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Most people find relief from wearing soft, pliable shoes, and arch supports, and from applying ice to the sore toe joint. Sometimes observation of the bunion is all that’s needed. To reduce the chance of damage to the joint, periodic evaluation and x-rays may be recommended.
In many other cases, however, some type of treatment is needed. Early treatments are aimed at easing the pain of bunions, but they won’t reverse the deformity itself. Some of these treatments include wearing proper fitting footwear or the addition of padding to footwear. Custom prescription orthotics are often helpful. Modifying activities that aggravate this condition may be necessary, ice and anti-inflammatory medications can help with swelling and pain. View a complete list of non-surgical options for bunion treatments.
When Is Surgery Needed?
Severe bunions may need to be surgically corrected. A variety of surgical procedures are available to treat bunions. Surgical procedures are designed to remove the “bump” of bone, correct the changes in the bony structure of the foot, and correct soft tissue changes that may also have occurred. The goal of surgery is to reconstruct the foot and therefore reducing pain.
To learn more about how Dr. Young and Dr. Nelson of the Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists are effectively treating foot and ankle disorders with the latest treatments and technology, visit www.BestFootDoc.com. For information about their highly effective heel pain and plantar fasciitis treatments visit www.SeattleHeelPain.com
Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists
BestFootDoc.com
Did you know that we have developed a dedicated resource for heel pain sufferers?
SeattleHeelPain.com