At Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists we average about 3-5 bunion surgeries every week. We find a lot of variation in bunion deformities from pediatrics bunion to Tailor's bunions. Bunions can have many different causes and it’s important to address all these deforming forces in order to maximize outcomes. Some people benefit from what's called a distal or metatarsal head procedure, others will need a more proximal or base procedure.

The majority of bunion procedures we performed patients are usually walking the first day after surgery. The limiting factor is usually swelling or pain at the operative site. We try to encourage patients to ambulate early and do functional range of motion quickly to maximize outcomes. The majority of bunion surgeries we provide at our clinic have great and quick outcomes. If you have bunion pain additionally we have many conservative options that we can provide for patients.

I like to make sure all my patients are well informed for any procedure they are considering, especially bunion surgery. It is important to note both the pros and cons of bunion surgery as well as what the recovery looks like. The majority of bunion procedures allow patients to walk immediately afterwards. However there can be some discomfort. It’s important to understand that pain, swelling and bruising are normal prior to the surgical process.

I encourage my patients ask questions at their pre-operative appointment, as this makes the surgical process much easier. Additionally, I provide all my patients with multiple handouts on what to expect and how to decrease down time and their recovery period. At our clinic we are lucky enough to have an on-site surgical center so this is both a huge time and cost savings for all of our patients. This also affords us the opportunity to perform more bunion surgeries than the average foot and ankle physician and we take great pride and specializing in bunion care. If you’re contemplating bunion surgery or just want an opinion on your bunion we are here to help.

Give us a call today at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online. 

Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists has been performing bunion surgery for more than 20 years and have performed thousands of bunionectomies. Having performed so many bunion procedures has allowed us to perfect our skills and provide patients with the most up-to-date bunion procedures. Currently there are almost 50 different bunion procedures that can be performed. However, the majority of these procedures are divided into 3 categories;

1. fusion or arthrodesis

2. head procedures

3. base procedures

It is important to note that not everyone is a candidate for one of these procedures. I can tell you it is important to have the entire foot structure evaluated as well as having x-rays done. I continue to get a lot of second opinions in my office due to the fact that I do perform so many bunionectomies. I do really enjoy discussing bunions and bunion procedures with patients in providing him with answers further questions and help with their feet. If you’re suffering from a bunion and are contemplating conservative care or surgical care consider making an appointment with us today.

I treat a lot of runners in the office for all sorts of foot and ankle pain. I am a runner myself and so I enjoy treating these patients. It seems as though a lot of runners have foot deformities and one of most common is a bunion. It is important to note that the bunion itself can grow larger with increased activities like running. Running and bunions can be challenging from a structural standpoint and from a pain reduction standpoint. I feel like I have a lot of tools at my disposal to help runners become pain free with activities.

The majority of runners I see are great conservative candidates and become extremely happy with their progress. There are a few patients that do not respond to conservative measures and require surgical intervention. It is very important for runners to seek a physician that has a lot of experience dealing with runners in their clinic. This is especially important when contemplating surgical intervention and I can tell you I am extremely cautious with procedure selection on runners. If you have a bunion and are getting pain with running you may be a candidate for conservative measures or surgical measures. I would love to help you keep running happy trails!

Give us a call at 425-391-866 or make an appointment online today.

Bunion surgery provides great outcomes for patients that want relief from foot pain. Foot pain associated with a bunion can be very difficult to manage from a conservative standpoint. A lot of patients have tried getting bigger or wider shoes, which can create more room for the bunion to grow and make the situation worse. Patients will also apply pads, straps, splints or tape to the feet. This can be time consuming and cumbersome and again does nothing to fix or reverse the cause of bunions. The only way to actually fix the bunion is surgically. Bunion surgery has come a long way there are now new techniques we utilize to decrease down times and post-operative pain.

New techniques offer shorter recoveries and quicker returns to activity. Pain control can be challenging for both patients and physicians that are not as familiar as we are with modern techniques and medications. We use a long acting anesthetic to make the foot numb and prescribe different medications based on each individual patient and procedure performed. We have taken years to perfect our pain control regime and find the majority of our patient’s rate their pain as being well controlled. If you are contemplating bunion surgery come see us. With our pain control regime, onsite surgical center and years of experience this will create the best possible experience for you.

If you have bunion pain, give us a call today at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online.

Some patients begin to notice a bump that is developing on the inside of their foot. They start to get pain with walking and exercise and they wonder what is happening. Often a patient will visit the shoe store or seek advice from nonmedical personnel as to what it is. It is important when been dealing with medical issues to seek the advice of someone who has had years of training and experience in that particular field. Your foot and ankle health is essential for long-term well-being of your overall general health. Bunions are the most common cause of pain and irritation around the big toe joint. The bunion is a bony deformity that often appears as a protuberance around the joint.

The majority of bunion deformities are an inherited foot structure. Patients can often trace to other relatives that have similar foot conditions. The pathology itself continues to progress with time and there is no conservative measures that reduce or correct the deformity. It is important to understand that conservative measures can sometimes help alleviate pain and increase overall functional performance. However, the bunion can only be fixed surgically. The surgical procedures depend on the patient’s overall foot structure, degree of deformity and activity levels. All bunion deformities that require surgical correction are done in the office and no longer require any hospitalization. All bunion procedures that we perform at Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists allow patients to be weight bearing and do not require prolonged periods using crutches or knee scooters. If you have a bunion deformity and would like to have it evaluated for either conservative or surgical measures please give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today.

Bunions and tailor’s bunion can be quite painful. Often times we see hammertoes associated with tailor’s bunions on the outside of the foot or on the inside of the foot. Bunion pain especially bunion pain of the big toe can be extremely difficult for patients that are active. We get a lot of questions for what is the best bunion correction that can be performed utilizing surgical techniques. We also get a lot of questions regarding minimally invasive type bunion procedures. The most important part of bunion surgery is having your bunion evaluated.

I highly recommend meeting your surgeon in person and have them evaluate your foot both clinically and radiographically. X-rays are paramount as well as the clinical exam to see what is causing the bunion deformity and what is the best correction method to be applied. There are many different types of bunion surgeries from what we call head procedures or procedures performed at the distal aspect of the first metatarsal or base procedures which are procedures performed at the proximal aspect. The recovery and the long-term reduction of the deformity can be correlated to type of bunion procedure that is done as well as a factors contributing to the bunion. Every bunion procedure we perform the patient can walk on the foot after the procedure and all of them are done in the office to save both time and money. 

If you have tried bunion pads and other bunion relief options give us a call and we’ll help you fix your bunion. Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an apointment online today. Myself (Dr. Brandon Nelson) or my partner Dr. Timothy Young would love to see you. 

Bunion surgery can be performed in an outpatient setting. This means that for a lot of people they will not need to stay the night in a hospital or even have to have the procedure in a hospital setting. The preference being at an ambulatory surgery center or an office-based surgery center is due to the cost savings and time savings. The majority of bunion procedures can be performed in less than 2 hours.

At Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists we have an on-site surgery center for performing bunion surgery. Bunion surgery itself is usually performed on the first metatarsal at either the head or the very distal aspect of the metatarsal or at the base of the metatarsal cuneiform joint. Bunion surgery selection is often based on the size of the deformity in the overall foot structure the patient. It is important to be examined for the bunion itself so we can look at other deformities to make sure there not contributing to this pathology. If you have a bunion and have pain and irritation or interested in looking into having it fixed permanently give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online.