At Vancouver Podiatry, when fixing bunions (a misalignment of the big toe joint which causes an often painful bump on the inside of the foot) we use a procedure called Tri-Correctional Bunionectomy which differs from the type of bunion surgery offered at other clinics. In the video below, Vancouver Podiatrist, Dr Roy Mathews DPM, explains the differences between bunion surgery procedures.  For more information and to book your consultation, contact us today.

A lot of people come in to the office asking: ” Will my bunion come back after surgery? ”

In this video, Vancouver Podiatrist, Dr Roy Mathews DPM, answers this question.  Will your bunion will return after undergoing a tri-correctional bunionectomy at Vancouver Podiatry? Watch the video below to find out! For more information and to book your consultation, contact us today.

Looking for bunion treatments without surgery? Here’s an informative article from Reader’s Digest on 7 Ways to Treat Bunions (Without Surgery). I recommend this article to anyone wanting to explore non-surgical treatments for bunions. Not all bunions require surgery, but they do worsen over time, so early intervention is key to their successful treatment. As you will read below, there are several treatments for bunions without surgery.  If you would like to have a consultation with one of our Vancouver Podiatrists, please visit our Kerrisdale office,  contact us by email, or give us a call at (604) 264-1377. Vancouver Podiatrists, Dr. Roy Mathews DPM and Dr. Victor Quintoro DPM will be glad to see you and answer any questions you may have.

7 Ways to Treat Bunions (Without Surgery)

Bunions worsen over time, so intervening early is key. These non-surgical treatments are a great place to start.

Jessica Migala

There are some health problems that you don’t expect to experience until your golden years—or preferably, never—and bunions is one of them. But bunions can actually appear at any age.

A bunion is a deformity of the foot. “It’s a biomechanical imbalance of the foot, where the first metatarsal bone is shifting out of alignment,” says podiatrist Miguel Cunha, DPM, founder of Gotham Footcare in New York City. The metatarsal bones are the long bones of the feet, and the first metatarsal is the one located behind the big toe. It’s a misconception that a bunion is a bony growth on the inside of your foot—it only appears that way, Dr. Cunha says. What you’re really seeing is the shifting of this bone.

How common are bunions?

Though the risk of developing bunions increases with age, research estimates that nearly one in four people between the ages of 18 to 65 have a bunion. For those over age 65, more than one in three people have them. Part of it is due to genetics (thank your parents or grandparents), but women are more likely to get them from years of wearing heels. “These shoes push your big toe over to the outside of your foot, creating an imbalance that makes the metatarsal bone shift inward,” says Dr. Cunha.

How do I know if I have a bunion?

If you compare your feet to someone else’s at the beach or pool, you’ll see a pronounced bump on the inside of your foot at the big toe joint, says Dr. Cunha. Symptoms include pain and tenderness, redness and inflammation, a callous on the bump (from rubbing against your shoe), or stiffness in the joint, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Intervening early is key. “Bunions progressively worsen over time,” says Dr. Cunha. Treatments depend on your level of pain. He recommends rating yours on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being severe pain. If yours is less than a five or six and you want to know how to get rid of bunions, then trying conservative, non-surgical treatment is a great place to start.

Avoiding surgery when you have bunions

“Conservative treatment is directed at addressing symptoms,” explains Dr. Cunha. “But once the bone shifts out of alignment, there’s nothing you can do to shift it back in other than surgery.” The following fixes can minimize your discomfort, treat any inflammation around the joint, and soothe irritation of the nerve and soft tissue.

Try the following for a few weeks to see if there’s any improvement in symptoms:

Avoid heels. They may have gotten you into this mess in the first place. “Wearing them will not only feel bad in the short term, but it will exacerbate the bunion long-term. They can cause a moderate bunion to turn severe,” says Dr. Cunha. Another thing that will help: Avoid the trend of wearing shows without socks whenever you can.

Be smart when shoe shopping. Try on shoes at the end of the evening, when your feet are at their plumpest. (Your feet progressively swell throughout the day.) This ensures your shoes will be comfortable—not tight—all day. If there’s still a spot that pinches, gel pads or moleskin may provide some relief.

Consider arch support. If you have flat feet, you’re more prone to bunions. In this case, arch inserts (or shoes that specifically offer arch support) can help, says Dr. Cunha. You could also see a podiatrist about a custom orthotic. “Orthotics don’t correct bunions but they assist you so you can walk comfortably, and slow down their progression,” he says.

Try a bunion splint. There are “bunion splints” or “big-toe straighteners” that you can find at the drugstore or on Amazon. But in terms of how to get rid of bunions, they won’t do it alone. “There’s an expectation that these will correct a bunion, but they never do. They shift the bunion more into alignment but this is temporary,” says Dr. Cunha. These splints may enhance the comfort of muscles and soft tissues, but that bunion will reappear as soon as you take them off.

Give your tootsies TLC. Treat sore and red feet with ice, a nice foot massage, and if necessary, by taking ibuprofen to reduce swelling, says Dr. Cunha.

See your doctor. While it’s tempting to try to address this yourself, it’s worth seeing a podiatrist for more effective therapies such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation. “These decrease inflammation around the joint, interrupt the pain cycle, and promote blood flow that helps heal ligaments around the joint that are sprained or fraying because the bone is not in alignment,” says Dr. Cunha. Your doctor may also take an X-ray to track the progression of your bunions. Discover 13 more things your podiatrist wishes you knew about your feet.

When to consider surgery

If, after all these efforts, you’re still experiencing a high level of pain or the bunion compromises your ability to walk, you may need surgery. It’s not as frightening as it sounds: This woman was up and walking three days after bunion surgery.

How Painful is Bunion Surgery? Watch Episode 2 of “Charley’s Bunion” in which Charley Describes Her Experience with her Initial Consultation and Actual  Bunion Surgery by the Vancouver Podiatrists at Vancouver Podiatry

Are you considering Bunion Surgery but want to know what the actual process is like?I Do you want to hear from a patient who has been through bunion surgery at Vancouver Podiatry? In this episode of “Charley’s Bunion”, Charley shares what it was like coming to Vancouver Podiatry for her initial consultation to see Vancouver Podiatrist, Dr. Roy Mathews. She also discusses what she was expecting the surgery to fix her painful bunion, and how it compared to her actual experience on the day of the surgery.   Call 604.264.1377 to book your no-obligation consultation at Vancouver Podiatry or visit https://doctormathews.com/ for more information.

Stayed tuned for Episode 3, where Charley will discuss her recovery from bunion surgery. She will describe her recovery from immediately following surgery, right up until 5 weeks post-op .

We hope this has been helpful to you. If  you have any questions, please contact a Vancouver Podiatrist at Vancouver Podiatry at 604.264.1377.

Many women seeking bunion treatment tell us that they are tired of hiding their feet. They tell us that they feel frustrated and alone in dealing with unsightly, often painful bunions.

Bunion sufferers across the world recently found that they are not alone in their struggle with a misaligned toe joint. According to several UK publications, none other than the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, also suffers with bunions. She apparently recently sought surgery to correct them. In the article, they mention that minimally invasive bunion surgery as an option to permanently correct bunions. At Vancouver Podiatry, Vancouver Podiatrists Dr. Roy Mathews DPM  and Dr. Victor Quintoro DPM offer minimally invasive bunion surgery to correct bunions.  There are many myths surrounding bunion surgery which we explore in this blog post. To hear one of our patient’s experience with minimally invasive bunion surgery you can watch Episode 1 of Charley’s Bunion here.

It is unfortunate and rather invasive of her privacy,  that Meghan Markle’s feet have come under such media scrutiny. One positive thing that may result is a raised awareness that this is a common problem, that no one need be ashamed of,  and for which there are cost-effective, non-invasive  procedures that offer a permanent solution.

If you have a bunion and are seeking bunion treatment, please book an appointment at our Kerrisdale office and we’ll be happy to discuss the options available to you.

Want to know if you are a good candidate for Bunion Surgery ? Watch Episode 1 of “Charley’s Bunion” in which Charley Gives her Testimonial About Why, For Her, Bunion Surgery by Vancouver Podiatrists at Vancouver Podiatry was the Right Decision

How do you know if you are good candidate for bunion surgery in Vancouver? In this episode of “Charley’s Bunion”, Charley shares her experience growing up with a painful bunion, how it has affected her, what she’s tried in the way of non-surgical treatments, and why, in the end, she decided to opt for bunion surgery at Vancouver Podiatry with Vancouver Podiatrist, Dr. Roy Mathews. Call 604.264.1377 to book your no-obligation consultation at Vancouver Podiatry or visit https://doctormathews.com/ for more information.

Stayed tuned for Episode 2, where Charley will share her experience at her bunion consultation and during surgery itself. If you have any questions, please contact a Vancouver Podiatrist at Vancouver Podiatry at 604.264.1377.

As Condition Reaches Epidemic Proportions, Patients Desperate For Effective Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Is Plantar Fasciitis becoming as prevalent as lower back pain? What are the best treatments for Plantar Fasciitis? We came across this recent article in the Boston Globe . The article sounds the alarm on Plantar Fasciitis and its increased prevalence in the United States. For those not familiar with it, Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue called the plantar fascia. The band runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. The condition causes a stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps when you get out of bed in the morning. As you get up and move around, the pain usually decreases. It may return after extended periods of standing or after rising from sitting.

In the article, the author quotes the American Podiatric Association as stating that the condition has reached “near epidemic” levels in the United States. In our own Vancouver Podiatrist practice, we have also seen an uptick in patients coming in complaining of pain in their heel and arch.

What is the reason for the increase and what are the best treatments for Plantar Fasciitis? According to some of the doctors quoted in the article, the trend towards wearing “minimalist shoes” that provide less stability and rigidity than in the past is partly to blame. Based on  our experience, minimalist shoes do need to be approached with caution. They are not appropriate for all types of feet and levels of activity. Authors go so far as to suggest that the increase in participation in yoga, and any other activity which involves extended time barefoot, can increase your chances of getting Plantar Fasciitis.

In the video below, Vancouver Podiatrist, Dr. Roy Mathews DPM, discusses the causes and treatments of this common condition. We hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any questions please call to book an appointment at our Kerrisdale office at 604-264-1377

Vancouver podiatrist helps cheerleader keep dancing:  Student dancer, Lara Mercier-Jung came to the office complaining of foot pain from her flat “pancake feet”.  She was fitted for a custom orthotic which allowed her continue dancing with the BC Lions’s Felions Cheer Squad. Lara was kind enough to send her favourite Vancouver podiatrist office (that’s us!)  this thank you note with a photo of her in action on the field. Go Lions and Go Lara!