Bunions can be painful and can make putting on shoes next to impossible. You can get permanent relief from bunions, and your podiatrist can help. Dr. Eric Arp at Arp Foot & Ankle provides comprehensive podiatry services, including the treatment of bunions. He has two convenient office locations in Harrison, and Mountain Home to help you.

What You Need To Know About Bunions and Bunion Treatment

Bunions are caused by a genetic bone deformity that makes your big toe joint protrude outward. The joint can rub against the inside of your shoe. The friction causes chronic inflammation, which can develop into a bunion.

You probably have a bunion if you:

• Notice a bony, hard bump on the side of your big toe
• Feel pain in your big toe and on the side of your big toe
• Experience loss of flexibility in your big toe

For small bunions, you may be able to get relief if you:

• Place ice on the bunion several times daily
• Wrap the bunion and your toe to provide support and cushioning
• Wear open shoes to prevent friction
• Wear wedges or cushions inside your shoes
• Change to wider shoes, with plenty of room for your toes

For larger, painful bunions, you should seek out professional treatment from your podiatrist, who may recommend:

• Wearing custom-fit orthotics or footwear
• Shaving calluses and corns to decrease friction
• Taking prescription anti-inflammatory medications to decrease pain and swelling

Your podiatrist may also recommend bunion surgery, known as a bunionectomy. At Arp Foot & Ankle, Dr. Arp performs a procedure known as MIS bunion surgery, which is minimally invasive bunion surgery. It’s a procedure to remove the bunion and realign your foot.

The minimally invasive nature of this type of surgery means that you will experience less pain after surgery, with less swelling. MIS bunion surgery will allow you to recover faster, with less visible scarring.

Want To Know More?

To find out more about the prevention and treatment of bunions including MIS bunion surgery, talk with an expert. Call Dr. Eric Arp at Arp Foot & Ankle. You can reach him in the Harrison, office by calling (870) 365-3668, or in Mountain Home, at (870) 425-7363, so call today.