Bunion Surgery Pain

A bunion is a foot deformity on the inner border of the foot. It is caused by the big toe and the metatarsal bone jutting out, so the big toe becomes more prominent than it should and/or drifts towards the other toes. When this occurs, a bump made of bone and soft tissue forms, and this bump is referred to as a bunion. A bunion can be surgically removed to treat the pain associated with the condition.

Types of Bunion Surgery

• There are four main types of bunion surgery. The first involves repairing the tissue in the big toe that has become too tight on one side and too loose on the other as a result of stretching to accommodate the bunion. Arthrodesis is the second type, which removes the damaged joints of the toe and replaces them with screws, wire or plates. Exostectomy is the third type, which involves removal of the bump. This is rare, because it does not correct the drifting of the toe. The final type is a resection arthroplasty which involves removal of the damaged parts of the toe and realignment.

Pain During Surgery

• Bunion surgery should be performed by a qualified orthopedic surgeon after a thorough consultation, involving X-rays of the foot to determine the cause of the bunion. It is usually a last resort and not recommended until other methods of treating the bunion and bunion pain have failed. Anesthesia is used in the surgery, so the procedure itself is not painful but there is a long recovery period which may have pain associated with it, and the surgery may also have painful complications in rare cases.

Expectations From Surgery

• Your Orththopedic Connection reports that between 85 and 90 percent of patients who undergo bunion surgery are satisfied with the reduction in pain associated with the surgery. However, Peace Health suggests that 33 percent of people are unhappy with the results of the surgery as a whole. Both Your Orthopedic Connection and Peace Health advise that the level of happiness with the surgery is associated with patients' expectations. The surgery is not cosmetic and will not make the foot appear normal or allow patients to wear certain shoes. Its sole purpose is to relieve pain.

After the Surgery

• There may be a period of pain and swelling in the foot after the surgery. This is normal, and post-operative care is essential to ensure that the foot heals correctly and that other side effects which cause lasting or sever pain do not develop. The foot is usually bandaged when you are sent home, so you need to take care to keep the bandage dry in order to avoid infection. You may be told to wear special shoes and/or use a walker or other support device to keep weight off the foot for several weeks following the surgery, and it is essential to do this to ensure the foot heels properly and the bunion does not reoccur. To treat normal pain associated with the operation, and to manage swelling which can persist for up to six months following surgery, you should keep the foot elevated and apply ice. You should also make sure to wear soft, comfortable and well fitting shoes.

Pain After Surgery

• Your Orthopedic Connection suggests that in rare cases damage to the foot may cause persistent tingling, burning or pain in the toe. Other surgical complications include infection or side effects from pain medication and anesthesia. Finally, the flexibility of the big toe joint may be permanently affected after the surgery.