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A bunion can make your daily life more complicated and less comfortable. Finding shoes that don’t irritate your feet gets challenging, and even with roomy ones, you might still have pain with each step you take.
This doesn’t have to be your life, though. Thanks to minimally invasive 3D bunion correction surgery, you could be back in sneakers walking more comfortably in about six weeks.
That said, bunion surgery isn’t right for everyone. As specialists in treating bunions, William T. DeCarbo, DPM, FACFAS, and our team can help you determine if this procedure is right for you — or if you should explore other bunion treatment options. Visit us at Greater Pittsburgh Foot & Ankle Center in Wexford, Pennsylvania, so we can help you find a plan that alleviates your bunion pain.
Generally, we recommend surgery when one or more of the following is true:
#1: Other treatments haven’t helped
You shouldn’t jump straight into surgery. First, explore other more conservative treatment options like:
- Changing your shoes
- Inserting orthotics in your shoes
- Wearing bunion pads
- Icing the bunion
Dr. DeCarbo can create a tailored plan of conservative treatment options to try before you consider surgery. If those don’t work, we scale up our interventions and we can talk about what a 3D bunion correction procedure could do for you.
#2: Persistent foot pain
The biggest reason to get bunion surgery is foot pain that you feel on a regular basis. If conservative treatment options aren’t bringing you relief and you have discomfort when you walk, it’s time to talk to Dr. DeCarbo about bunion correction surgery. This procedure gives you a way to alleviate that pain so you feel so you can get back to doing the activities you love.
#3: Reduced range of toe motion
Your bunion can make it harder to move your big toe, and even painful to do so. This symptom means your bunion has progressed fairly far, making you a good candidate for surgery.
#4: Problems finding shoes
Many people with bunions find relief from their discomfort with sandals or shoes with a wide toe box. Eventually, though, the bunion can grow to the point that finding shoes becomes difficult. If your bunion is big enough that it rubs in virtually every pair of shoes you wear, it probably makes your day uncomfortable — and even painful.
Fortunately, after bunion correction surgery, you can go back to wearing sneakers. In fact, many people who choose the 3D procedure that Dr. DeCarbo offers are back in closed-toed shoes within 6-8 weeks.
If the above signs sound familiar, talk to Dr. DeCarbo. He can help you find out if you’re a candidate for minimally invasive bunion correction surgery. Call our office or book your appointment online today.