For years, we’ve seen many people put off having bunion surgery when they really needed it because they were concerned about the after-effects of a surgical procedure. With traditional bunion surgery, they may have had good reason to be worried as traditional surgery does require extensive recovery time.
Thankfully, there is a viable alternative for people suffering from bunions and foot pain. Minimally invasive bunion surgery is markedly different from traditional procedures, and, we feel, much better in just about every regard. Here, we’ll explain what to expect after bunion surgery, as well as what you can do as a patient to ensure your own recovery goes smoothly.
The big reason why minimally invasive bunion surgery presents fewer recovery complications is that it’s a much more efficient procedure than traditional bunion surgery. While traditional methods of treating bunions involve opening up the foot with a large incision and placing screws or other sutures to realign it, minimally invasive surgery is –– as its name suggests –– much less traumatic on your body. Instead, minimally invasive surgery allows a medical professional to treat a bunion with a few very small incisions. The entire procedure takes about an hour, and most patients only need a regular bandage and gauze to cover their foot upon completion. There’s no general anesthesia, no need to get pre-operative clearance from your primary care doctor and no changes needed to any of the medications you are currently taking.
As opposed to traditional bunion surgery, which may force patients to stay off their feet for months at a time, most of our patients at Northwest Surgery Center are able to resume normal, daily activities almost immediately after surgery. In fact, patients who undergo minimally invasive bunion surgery typically are able to drive back home and go to work the day following their procedure. For the most part, people are able to get right back into the swing and rhythm of their “normal” life following minimally invasive surgery. There are a few caveats to keep in mind, though. In the immediate aftermath of bunion surgery avoid all of the following:
Operating heavy machinery.
Intense exercise like playing a sport, for instance.
Swimming or any activity that will get your bandages wet.
Patients will also need to wear a small post-operative shoe for one to four weeks following minimally invasive bunion surgery.
It’s difficult to overstate just how preferable minimally invasive bunion surgery is when compared to other treatment methods. That’s because minimally invasive bunion surgery helps treat bunions while also reducing the possibility of developing them again. Traditional surgery may lead to a number of risks and complications for further foot pain. And over-the-counter products like bunion correctors don’t treat the source of bunion pain. Other ways patients can prevent bunions from recurring include:
Monitoring foot health closely.
Exercising your feet and toes on a regular basis.
Wearing appropriate footwear.
Minimally invasive bunion surgery can help people get back to living their lives to the fullest –– pain-free. If you’ve been hesitant about bunion surgery in the past, know that you now have an alternative option. Here at Northwest Surgery Center, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have about our methods and what you can expect from minimally invasive bunion surgery. So contact us here to learn more!
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