Why You Shouldn’t Wait To Get Surgery for Hammertoes and Bunions

Orthopedic issues such as hammertoes and bunions might be common, but they can significantly hinder one’s everyday life, especially when left untreated. If you experience pain or discomfort when walking or wearing your favorite shoes, have noticed a bump on the side of your foot or toe, or are experiencing pain after engaging in physical activity or spending a long day on your feet, you might be suffering from bunions or hammertoes. Unfortunately for many patients, the only way to treat these issues and permanently put an end to pain is by undergoing surgery for hammertoes and bunions.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait To Get Surgery for Hammertoes and Bunions

While there are numerous tools on the market intended to treat bunions such as foot braces and toe splints, these tools often provide only temporary relief from pain as they do not treat the issue at the source. Unfortunately, the only way to treat a bunion and provide permanent pain relief is with surgery. 

Bunions vs. Hammertoes

A bunion is a bony bump that can form at the base of your big toe as a result of an imbalance of pressure placed on your foot over time. In addition to being bumpy, the skin surrounding a bunion might be red, sore, or otherwise inflamed. 

Bunions can be caused by many factors, most commonly including wearing uncomfortable or ill-fitting footwear or the natural shape of your foot. 

A hammertoe is a common deformity caused by an imbalance in the muscles that are responsible for holding your toes straight. A Hammertoe looks like an abnormal bump or bends in the middle of a toe. Similar to bunions, hammertoes can be caused by wearing improper or ill-fitting footwear for long periods of time, as well as traumatic injuries commonly occurring as a result of sports injuries. 

In the case of both bunions and hammertoes, leaving these issues untreated will lead them to worsen over time. 

Non-Surgical Treatment Methods

There are numerous non-surgical, at-home remedies available for the treatment of bunions and hammertoes, however, many medical professionals advise that these methods of treatment only provide temporary relief from pain or discomfort and will not treat these issues permanently. 

Common non-surgical treatments include:

• Using special medical tape to hold toes in place
• Stretching your toes to relieve muscle pain
• Special foot splints, braces, and shoes intended to correct bunions

And more. 

While some of these at-home methods can help to temporarily relieve pain associated with bunions, they do not permanently correct these issues. In many cases, surgery for hammertoes and bunions is necessary for permanent pain relief. 

Neither bunions nor hammertoes will go away on their own. If you are experiencing either issue, it is important to seek help from a medical professional as soon as possible in order to keep these issues from worsening with time.

Surgery for Hammertoes and Bunions

Traditional surgery for hammertoes and bunions can be painful and require a lengthy post-operative recovery period, during which time patients must wear a special boot, cast, or shoe and limit their physical activity. Luckily, minimally invasive surgery for hammertoes and bunions makes treating these issues and easing pain once and for all easier than ever. 

Minimally Invasive Surgery at NWSC

At Northwest Surgery Center, patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery for bunions and hammertoes will be treated in one of our state-of-the-art modern surgery suites where we perform our procedures using the latest and best surgical technology. During the procedure, a small incision is made under local anesthesia with specially designed surgical equipment. After the procedure is completed, patients will visit our designated recovery area for a short period of time before being able to walk out and drive home! Patients can expect to return to their normal daily routines immediately following surgery and should expect little to no pain in the aftermath of a minimally invasive procedure.

Contact Northwest Surgery Center

Undergoing minimally invasive surgery for hammertoes and bunions is the best way to get fast and long-lasting relief from pain. Bunions and hammertoes will not go away on their own, so don’t wait – contact Northwest Surgery Center today to get started discussing your treatment options with our helpful, experienced staff.