Myths About Bunion Surgery

Those pointy-toed stilettos look great on your feet, but how do your feet look once you take those shoes off? Unfortunately for those with bunions, footwear such as high-heeled sandals, pointy-toe flats, and other painful but adorable shoes are often to blame for this pesky problem.

There are plenty of lifestyle remedies you can try to treat a bunion, such as shoe inserts, medications, and wearing healthier shoes. When a bunion becomes severe, surgery is sometimes the best solution.  Depending on the severity of the bunion, bunion surgery can either encompass a small bone cut for a milder bunion or complete realignment of the structural issue for a larger bunion. Typically, it takes about six weeks for the bones of the big toe and the rest of the foot to mend into the corrected position after bunion surgery.

Here are some myths about bunion surgery and the facts to set them (and your bunion) straight.

  • You will have to be out of work for a long period of time: Depending on the demands of your workplace and the severity of your bunion, bunion surgery does not necessarily require patients to be out of work for long periods of time. In fact, some patients with milder bunions can return to work at a sedentary desk job within as little as two weeks after their bunion surgery. However, if your bunion surgery was more complex or your job requires excessive amounts of standing or walking, your surgeon may suggest a medical leave of absence which can last up to two months.
  • You have to walk around with a cast and crutches: This is one of the most common myths about bunion surgery. While being confined by a cast and moving around with crutches after bunion surgery was more common years ago, modern advancements in surgical technique have allowed foot surgeons to mobilize their patients faster. Bunion surgery for mild bunions generally involves wearing and walking in a surgical shoe for about six weeks. Still, surgeons may advise patients to consider casting and crutches in cases of larger bunions because of the complexity of their surgical realignment.

Deciding to undergo bunion surgery is ultimately up to you and your foot care specialist in Boca Raton. Depending on the severity of your bunion, surgery may just be the best option, or your podiatrist may suggest other forms of treatment, like finally retiring those ill-fitting shoes.

Dr. Jason Gold, DPM, FACFAS

Dr. Jason Gold, DPM, FACFAS, is a podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center in Boca Raton, FL, and Boynton Beach, FL. He has over 20 years of experience and specializes in foot and ankle conditions like bunions, fat pad atrophy, and sports medicine. Dr. Jason holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and he earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. He's one of only 10 board-certified Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgeons in Palm Beach County. Dr. Gold has been featured in highly authoritative publications like HuffPost, PureWow, and Yahoo!

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus , DPM - Podiatrist in Boca Raton, FL

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus DPM, RPhs, FACFAS

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus, DPM, RPhs, FACFAS, is a podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center in Boca Raton, FL, and Boynton Beach, FL. She has over 20 years of experience and specializes in foot, ankle, and leg vein conditions like spider and varicose veins and sclerotherapy. Dr. Jodi holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan, and she earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Schoenhaus has performed FDA-approved research and has been published in the National Library of Medicine and PubMed. Dr. Jodi has been featured in highly authoritative publications like Cosmopolitan, Lifehacker, Parade, New York Post, and Yahoo!, among others.