Monday, November 4, 2013

Steps To Bunion Surgery San Francisco

By Marsha Klein


A bunion is a protrusion on the side of a big toe. This toe tends to lean in the direction of the smaller toes. The condition is usually treated non-surgically first. If these methods do not work, it may be time to get bunion surgery San Francisco.

Bunions occur when bumps of tissue and bone form on the big toe. They are a misalignment of bone and/or tissue growth. They most often occur on a big toe, but sometimes affect a small toe. They are sometimes red and very painful. If not treated, they tend to get worse.

This condition is found more often in women than in men. Heredity and genetics are major contributors for suffering this condition. If your family has a history of bunions, you are likely to eventually have them too. However, they can also be caused by certain foot injuries. They are not caused by wearing the wrong shoes. However, wearing shoes that do not fit properly can make them get worse or show up faster.

Most people will try non-surgical solutions for treatment. For some, just wearing wider shoes alleviates the problem. Others have found success with covering the area with a rubber pad. Some use anti-inflammatory medicines. Some get a shot of cortisone that seems to help. If these non-surgical solutions do not work, surgery might be the next step.

The surgeon will first get your medical history. He will give a thorough exam to the foot. Then he will take x-rays to study the foot's anatomy. He then can decide if an operation is the best option.

An operation on bunions is a bunionectomy. Its purpose is to correct the deformities and ultimately to relieve the foot pain. Before the operation begins, you will receive a sedative and a regional anesthesia. The doctor then cuts along the side or top of the affected toe. He then removes or realigns the bumpy bone and tissue. If your case is severe, he may have to use reinforcement with pins, wires, or screws. The work done depends on your individual situation. Normally, the operation takes approximately one hour. In most cases it will be done as an outpatient procedure.

Recovery time is based on how severe the problem was. It can vary from 6 weeks up to 6 months. Stitches are usually removed from a period of 7 to 21 days. Outside screws or pins are taken out after 3 to 6 weeks. The patient is required to wear either special shoes or a walking cast for a time period of up to 8 weeks. If the case is very severe, the patient may not be allowed to put any weight on the foot for up to 8 weeks. The more severe the case, the longer the recovery time.

The condition my come back after having the operation. However, this usually occurs if the patient continues to wear ill-fitting shoes. In most cases walking ability and the appearance of the toe are both greatly improved. Of course, as with any medical procedure, it is vital that you research your doctor carefully. Make sure you have someone who is qualified and experienced. Then you may decide to get bunion surgery San Francisco.




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