Services | Orthopedics and Pain Medicine Physician located in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City and West Orange, NJ | Garden State Pain & Orthopedics

What is a bunion?

A bunion is a growth on the inside of your foot, right along the side of the big toe. It occurs when the big toes is forced to push up against the next toe. This is caused by improper footwear, arthritis, or foot trauma. Bunions get progressively worse over time causing inflammation or bursitis on the inside of the big toe.

A bunionette, also known as a tailor's bunion, occurs on the outside of your foot causing pain and inflammation. These are often caused by heredity, foot misalignment, or arthritis. 

How is a bunion diagnosed and treated?

Severe bunions can be visually observed by the eye. To further diagnose the severity of the bunion, a clinical examination and x-ray are taken to determine the next steps. 

"Here at Garden State Pain and Orthopedics we offer minimally invasive bunion surgery as well as corrective hammer toe surgery to straighten out the big toe and the lesser toes. We do this through several small percutaneous or portal incisions. Through these we are able to shift the bone in the foot so it is straight and aligned.

The minimally invasive approach allows the patient to be weight bearing after surgery. For the first two weeks the patient will be in a walking boot and then will be transitioned into a surgical shoe for two more weeks. After those 4 weeks, an additional x-ray is taken and the patient is back in a supportive athletic sneaker.” - Dr. Scott Hanauer, Foot and Ankle Specialist at Garden State Pain and Orthopedics.

When should I get my bunion treated?

If you experience pain from your bunion, the first step would be to change into more comfortable shoes that are pain-free. If changing your shoes does not relieve your pain, you should seek a medical professional for assistance. Bunion pain can be relieved through orthotics or injections.

However, treatments such are injections are only temporary solutions. Injections will not fix your bunion, and over time bunions progressively get worse. If the pain from your bunion becomes unbearable, it may be time to consider surgery. 

“Your body will tell you when it’s ready for surgery. With something such as a bunion or hammer toe - if it affects your body on a daily basis and you are in constant pain, it is time for surgery.” - Dr. Scott Hanauer

What hesitation do you usually see when it comes to bunion surgery? 

“The most common hesitation we see when it comes to bunion surgery are patients who know a friend who had bunion surgery that was extremely painful causing them to be off their feet for about 6-12 weeks in a cast.

At Garden State Pain and Orthopedics we offer minimally invasive bunion surgery. This allows the patient to be walking in a protective boot the day of surgery. After 2 weeks patients are typically transitioned into a protective shoe for an additional 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after surgery the patient will be back in a supportive athletic sneaker. Most patients are back to normal activity 10-12 weeks after surgery.”

Traditional bunion surgery is a tried and true solution for painful bunions. However, with new technology, most bunions can be treated with minimally invasive techniques. These techniques are less painful, create less scarring, and have a shorter time of recovery. 

For more infotmation about our bunion treatments, schedule an appointment through the "Book Online" button, or read more about or treatments and providers.

Bunion Doctor Near You - More about Garden State Pain and Orthopedics

Garden State Pain and Orthopedics is a group of Orthopedic and Pain Management Physicians located in Clifton, Edison, Hazlet, West Orange, and Jersey City who have provided the highest quality healthcare since 1994. Garden State Pain & Orthopedics is on the cutting edge of technology in pain medicine with expertise across diverse pain conditions and treatment modalities, including interventional pain techniques, minimally-invasive surgeries, medical management, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and behavioral therapy. You can schedule an appointment with their pain doctors by selecting the “Book Now” button. 

Locations:

Clifton

Address: 1117 Route 46 East, Suite 301, Clifton, NJ 07013

Phone: 973-777-5444

Edison

Address: 25 South Main Street, Suite 12, Edison, NJ 08837

Phone: 732-376-0330

Jersey City

Address: 631 Grand Street, Suite 2-100, Jersey City, NJ 07304

Phone: 973-777-5444

West Orange

Address: 443 Northfield Ave West Orange, NJ 07052

Phone: 732-376-0330

Hazlet

Address: 226 Middle Road, Suite 4, Hazlet, NJ 07730 

Phone: 732-376-0330