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Bunion and Hammertoe Treatments

SCMSC Provides Comprehensive Bunion and Hammertoe Treatments

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Bunions

A bunion represents more than just an unsightly bump on your foot – it’s a progressive deformity that affects the structure of your foot where the big toe joins the foot. At Southern California Multi-Specialty Center (SCMSC), we understand that bunions can significantly impact your daily life, from limiting your footwear choices to causing persistent pain with every step.

Illustration of a healthy foot vs a foot with bunion

Did You Know…

Your choice of shoes plays a huge role in bunion development and progression. Think of your shoes as your feet’s daily environment – the right environment can help prevent bunions from forming or getting worse. At SCMSC, we recommend choosing shoes that give your toes plenty of wiggle room and support your foot’s natural shape. It’s like giving your feet a comfortable home rather than squeezing them into a tight space. Looking for shoes in the Los Angeles area? Focus on styles with a roomy toe box – your feet will thank you later!

Common Signs of Bunion Development

The development of a bunion often begins subtly but can progress to cause significant discomfort. Early recognition of symptoms is crucial for effective treatment. When a bunion develops, you’ll typically notice a visible bump at the base of your big toe, which may become red and inflamed. The big toe often begins turning inward, pushing against other toes and causing further discomfort. Many patients report increasing difficulty wearing regular shoes, along with recurring calluses and corns where the bunion rubs against footwear.

Minimal Incision Bunion Surgery at SCMSC

At SCMSC, Dr. Nazarian specializes in minimal incision bunionectomy, an advanced surgical technique that transforms the way we treat bunions. This innovative approach allows for precise correction through tiny incisions, offering significant advantages over traditional bunion surgery. Our patients benefit from:

  • Substantially smaller incisions leading to minimal scarring
  • Reduced post-operative pain and swelling
  • Faster recovery and return to regular activities
  • Lower risk of complications
  • Superior cosmetic results
  • Local anesthesia options for suitable candidates

Conservative Treatment Options

Before considering surgery, we explore various non-surgical approaches to managing bunion pain and preventing progression. Treatment begins with conservative measures aimed at relieving pressure and reducing inflammation. We develop personalized treatment plans that consider your specific condition, lifestyle, and goals. These may include specialized footwear recommendations, custom orthotics designed for your unique foot structure, and targeted anti-inflammatory therapies.

When to Consider Surgical Intervention

While many bunions can be managed conservatively, certain situations may indicate the need for surgical correction. Persistent pain affecting daily activities often signals it’s time to consider surgical options. This is particularly true when finding comfortable shoes becomes increasingly difficult, or when you notice the deformity progressing despite conservative care. Many patients seek surgical intervention when their bunions begin impacting other toes or limiting their mobility and activity level.

Bunions Q & A

The podiatrist at SCMSC in Los Angeles wrapping a foot in gauze suffering from a diabetic foot ulcer

Bunions can be identified by the large bump they cause at the base of the big toe. They may lead to complications such as hammertoe or bursitis if left untreated.

What are the Symptoms of a Bunion?

Bunions are easily identified by the large, protruding bump they cause at the base of the big toe. Usually, the big toe begins to angle away from the body, potentially leading to redness, soreness, swelling, and calluses.

Why Should I See a Los Angeles Foot Specialist About My Bunion?

Many people live with bunions for years without any problems. However, they may lead to complications, such as ‘hammertoe’ or ‘bursitis’ if left untreated. Schedule an appointment to meet with a podiatrist at our Los Angeles podiatry clinic if your bunions are worsening, causing chronic toe or foot pain, or if they are limiting your mobility. You may also wish to consult with a podiatrist about bunion treatment in Los Angeles if your bunions are a source of embarrassment or affecting your ability to find shoes that fit.

What Type of Bunion Treatments are Available in Los Angeles?

Not everyone who has bunions requires treatment. However, your Los Angeles foot specialist may recommend addressing the symptoms of bunions by first changing shoes or using foot orthotics that support the big toe in a ‘normal’ position. Steroid injections or over-the-counter medications may also be used to reduce inflammation and temporarily manage pain. In some cases, surgery at our surgical center may be necessary to relieve pain and restore the toe’s natural position.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a foot condition in which one or more toes are abnormally bent. These foot deformities occur as a result of injury or long-term wear of poorly fit shoes. Though anyone can develop hammertoe, it is especially common in women who have a second toe that is longer than the big toe. Over time, hammertoe may cause discomfort, pain, corns, calluses, and not to mention permanent stiffening of the tendon in the affected toe.

Illustration of a hammertoe, a foot condition in which one or more toes are abnormally bent.
Hammertoe is a foot condition in which one or more toes are abnormally bent. Hammertoe may cause discomfort, pain, corns, calluses and permanent stiffening of the tendon in the affected toe.

Did You Know…

Hammertoe may be prevented by wearing properly fitting footwear. For those seeking foot care in the Los Angeles area, it is important to choose shoes that are roomy near the toes allowing, at least, a half-inch of space between the shoe and the tip of the longest toe. Keep in mind that the risk of developing hammertoe increases with age, so selecting properly fitted footwear is even more important over time.

Hammertoe Q & A

Senior woman's feet with bunions and hammertoe

Woman’s feet with hammertoe and bunions. Hammertoe is identifiable by the abnormal bend of the toes.

What are the Symptoms of Hammertoe?

Hammertoe is easily identified by the abnormal bend it causes in one or more toes. The bend is found in the middle joint and usually affects the toe closest to the big toe. The symptoms are very similar to mallet toe, which instead causes an abnormal bend in the joint closest to the nail. A Hammertoe may cause skin irritation, corns, and calluses, as well as chronic pain.

Why Should I See a Podiatrist in Los Angeles About the Condition?

Schedule an appointment with a podiatrist at our Los Angeles podiatry clinic if hammertoe is making you uncomfortable or affecting your ability to walk. It is important to seek treatment while the toe is still flexible and more easily treated. Left untreated, hammertoe may progress to a permanent condition that requires more extensive treatment.

What Type of Treatments are Available to People with Hammertoe in Los Angeles?

Treatment for hammertoe may include the use of foot orthotics, as well as physical therapy exercises that strengthen and elongate the affected toe. When conservative treatment measures are ineffective, patients in Los Angeles may require surgical intervention at our specialty surgical center to treat hammertoe.

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