What is a Bunion?
By Jared Ernest Physical Therapist
What is a Bunion?
Bunions develop when the pressures of weight bearing and shifting your weight fall unevenly on the joints and tendons in your feet. This imbalance in pressure makes your big toe joint unstable, molding the parts of the joint into a hard knob that pokes out beyond the normal shape of your foot.
Image of a woman with a Bunion
What Could Cause a Bunion?
About 90% of the time, bunions are caused from overly tight shoes. Bunions are much more common in women than men. Bunions can also be caused by an inherited structural deficit.
Stress on your foot or a medical condition (such as arthritis) can also cause a bunion. Experts also argue over whether or not high heels can cause a bunion.
Bunion Surgery Recovery Tips
You should elevate and ice your foot as indicated by your doctor to prevent excessive swelling. You should plan to stay off of your feet for 3 to 5 days after your surgery. An assistive device such as a walker or crutches should be used to get around at first.
The stitches will need to be removed approximately 2 weeks after the surgery. You should expect your foot to be bandaged and possibly with a postoperative shoe or cast for protection.
Image of a Bunion on X-ray
The bandage will need to be replaced to ensure there is no infection and the bones are properly aligned. Another bunion surgery recovery tip includes wearing a plastic bag over your foot during showering to prevent moisture and infection.
Depending on your surgeon, you may have a walking boot to protect the incision and you should be able to return to normal walking within 2 to 6 weeks.
If you would like to learn more about surgery for a bunion, please follow these links: bunionectomy surgery, minimally invasive bunion surgery, and Plantar Fasciitis Can’t Wait (Video)
JOI and JOI Rehab
JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.
You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.
To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
