Bunions

BUNIONS SPECIALIST

Foot and Ankle Specialist & Podiatric Surgeon in Midtown Manhattan, New York, NY

Bunions are one of the most common foot problems affecting adults in the United States, and it’s important to understand how to prevent and treat them. Whether you’ve formed bunions from wearing ill-fitting shoes or you have a family history of bunions, dual board-certified foot and ankle podiatric surgeon E. Giannin Perez, DPM, FACFAS, at Flex Foot and Ankle in the Midtown Manhattan area of New York City, can help you determine the right treatment for you.

Also, Dr. Perez was a patient herself! She had bunion surgery on both her feet which is how she was introduced into the field. Call her office or schedule an appointment online today.

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Bunions Q&A

Bunions are bumps that form on the side of the big toe joint. A bunion occurs when you put frequent pressure on your big toe, eventually causing the big toe to lean toward the second toe and resulting in a bony protrusion at the base of your big toe.

Bunions develop slowly, so you may overlook one at first. Untreated, however, they grow over time, eventually making it painful to walk or wear shoes and possibly leading to other foot issues, such as hammertoe, an abnormal bend in the middle joint of your second or third toe.

You may be at risk of developing bunions if you have rheumatoid arthritis, if others in your family have had bunions, or if you were born with a foot deformity.

Wearing shoes that don’t fit well or wearing high heels can exacerbate the problem if you’re predisposed to having bunions. When choosing shoes, find options with a wide toe box. Shoes that squeeze your foot or cause discomfort may increase your chances of forming bunions.

If you experience consistent foot pain, have difficulty moving your big toe, or struggle to find shoes that fit you well due to your bunion, contact Flex Foot and Ankle.

Having had bunion surgery herself, a reason she entered the field of podiatry, Dr. Perez understands the patient perspective. She prioritizes educating her patients on their diagnosis and treatment options and wants to involve you in developing your treatment plan.

Dr. Perez performs a biomechanical exam and gait analysis, discussing with you how your bunions most likely formed and presenting conservative options to treat them. This typically involves shoe modification, steroid injections to reduce the pain, and fitting you for custom-made orthotics to support your foot better and prevent further deformity.

However, if these options don’t provide sufficient relief, she discusses surgical intervention with you. After taking an X-ray of your foot to analyze the bunion, Dr. Perez talks over the surgical options with you. Procedures include:

Shortening the loose tissue surrounding your big toe and lengthening the tight tissue
Removing part of the bone to straighten your big toe
Realigning the bones in the front part of your foot to fix the angle in your big toe

These options may consist of a single procedure or a combination of procedures, depending on the complexity and severity of your bunion.

To learn more about the treatments available to halt the progression of a bunion or ease the discomfort caused by one, call Flex Foot and Ankle in Midtown Manhattan or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment with Dr. Perez.