Bunion Surgery Q & A

How does bunion surgery compare to conservative treatments?

When bunions first appear, they’re usually fairly small and may not cause severe pain. The Rockmore Foot and Ankle Specialists team may recommend custom orthotics, padding, taping, changing shoes, or other conservative approaches. Those conservative measures won’t eliminate your bunion but can keep you comfortable and help prevent it from worsening.

The main difference between conservative care and bunion surgery is that surgery is meant to be a permanent solution. Bunions are a foot deformity that causes significant bone alignment changes inside your foot, so surgery is the only way to reconstruct those foot bones and eliminate your bunion.

If your goal is eliminating the bunion, not just treating the symptoms, surgery is the only way to do so.  

When do I need to consider bunion surgery? 

Three signs that it’s time to think about bunion surgery are:


Conservative treatment isn’t working 

Many people start with conservative treatment, which is geared toward symptom relief. But, if you have persistent bunion pain, toe stiffness, and other symptoms and conservative therapies aren’t really working, surgery is a logical next step to consider. 


Bunion progression

Unfortunately, bunions may sometimes worsen despite your best efforts with conservative care. If your bunion is steadily growing, particularly if it does so rapidly, it’s wise to consider bunion surgery before it worsens and affects your mobility.


Disrupted life

Bunions can be extremely painful, and eventually, you might find it hard to stand, walk, and function normally. If your bunion is the reason you’re missing out on the activities you enjoy, it’s time to think about how bunion surgery can help you get your life back.  

What is recovery like after bunion surgery?

The Rockmore Foot and Ankle Specialists team has performed hundreds of successful bunion surgeries using the latest minimally invasive techniques, with small incisions and modern reconstructive methods. 

One specific example is Lapiplasty®, a unique minimally invasive approach that corrects instability in the middle part of the foot, where bunions start, which leads to optimal surgical results and prevents the bunion from returning.  

Using Lapiplasty and other specialized minimally invasive techniques leads to faster recoveries, with most patients walking on the day of the surgery. You can typically get your feet wet by the 10th day post-surgery. 

Ready to learn more about bunion surgery? Call Rockmore Foot and Ankle Specialists or click online scheduling now.