Bunions – Should they go or stay?

Bunions create as much comment and discussion as they do pain for their ‘owners’. Let’s assume that your bunions are bony lumps. First ask yourself are they getting bigger and more painful? Being disappointed with the look of your feet is not reason enough for surgery. Possibly you have some underlying arthritis and the joint is painful at every movement and it is seriously affecting your quality of life. Rheuma-surgery,as it is known is becoming more appropriate nowadays. Another cause for concern is if the big toe is deviating away towards the smaller toes so much that your foot is beginning to look like a tennis racquet.

Whatever the nature of your problem, if you do decide to undergo surgery I believe there are some basic truths to come to terms with. Perhaps the most basic is the most obvious – make sure your surgeon is a specialist foot surgeon – not one who includes foot surgery with the rest of his/her practice.

Then you have to fully understand and accept the conditions surrounding the surgery. This usually includes at least six weeks of careful rest, individualised treatment and immobilisation, plus the general life disruption. It’s my opinion that most “disappointing” surgical outcomes are the result of patients being unable or unwilling to fully comply with the post-operative care requirements.

So what to do about your bunions? Try every conservative measure that you can to preserve your feet. if your life has become interrupted and painful because of your bunions then DISCUSS with your surgeon all about the procedure and after care before you go ahead. Or maybe don’t!