When you have a surgical procedure to correct an issue, you typically assume that the surgery will not only correct the problem, but that it will also address the issue in such a manner that it will not return later in life. For most foot and ankle operations, surgery achieves the desired result and the problem never resurfaces, but one issue that tends to return more than most foot issues is a bunion. Nobody wants to undergo a second corrective procedure on a bunion, so what can you do to reduce your risk of it returning? Below, we share some tips for preventing bunion recurrence after surgery.

Preventing Bunions From Returning

Following all these tips won’t guarantee that your bunion won’t return, but it should significantly reduce your risk of a recurrence. Here’s what we advise:

• Switch Your Shoes – There’s a high probability that the shoes you regularly wear played a role in bunion onset, so consider reevaluating your shoe choice, especially if your surgeon asked about your footwear choices before or after your operation. Shoes with a wider toe box can help limit strain on the big toe joint, and a supportive shoe can also ensure that stress is displaced correctly when you’re upright or moving. Poor footwear choices are the leading cause of bunion onset, so make sure your shoes help to support the big toe joint after your operation.
• Consider Orthotics – Another helpful way to ensure stress is displaced correctly across your entire foot and throughout the toe box is by adding orthotics to the shoes you regularly wear. There are over-the-counter options that you can buy at a pharmacy or a place like Target or Wal-Mart, or you can talk with your surgeon about getting fitted for a custom orthotic. These custom inserts are designed specifically for the unique shape of your foot, and they can provide even more protection for the surgically-addressed joint.
• Weight Loss – The more you weigh, the more pressure that will be placed on your feet when you’re upright, and losing just a little weight can take a lot of stress off your feet. You don’t need to undergo a drastic weight loss, but working to make some healthy choices and increasing the amount of exercise you get can help you work towards a healthier weight, which will also be beneficial for your feet.
• Exercise/PT – Exercise is helpful for weight loss, but it can also help to strengthen key muscle groups in your feet and ankles. The same goes for physical therapy exercises. When your feet are stronger, the muscles in the area help to shield different areas of your feet from stress. Stronger calves, ankles and feet can limit the amount of stress on the big toe joint, in turn reducing your risk of recurrence.
• Choose Dr. McDonald – Finally, you can reduce your risk of needing a secondary surgery by choosing a surgeon to perform your initial operation who has an excellent track record of achieving fantastic results. Dr. McDonald regularly performs relatively standard and sometimes complex bunion operations, and he’s confident that he can correct the problem in such a manner that it is rectified now and in the future. Let Dr. McDonald be your resource if you’ve been battling a bunion and take solace in knowing that he’ll do everything in his power to correct the problem permanently.

For more tips on how you can work to keep a bunion from coming back, or to talk to a specialist about treating your bunion conservatively or operatively, reach out to Dr. McDonald’s office today at (860) 244-8889.