Understanding Bunion Treatment Options
Bunions can be more than just an inconvenience—they can cause persistent pain and limit your ability to move comfortably throughout the day. If you’re tired of dealing with discomfort and want to find a solution that fits your lifestyle, you’ve come to the right place. Kansas City area podiatrist, Dr. Joel Foster, offers a variety of options for treating bunions, ranging from conservative care to advanced surgical procedures, tailored to your unique needs.
Conservative Bunion Treatment Options
For many patients, conservative treatments can help manage the symptoms of bunions and allow them to continue living an active, pain-free lifestyle. While these treatments won’t eliminate the bunion itself, they can certainly reduce pain, improve function, and slow the progression of the condition. Some of the conservative treatment options we offer include:
- Padding and Protective Devices
To alleviate pressure and reduce friction on the bunion, we may recommend using special padding for your toes. This can help prevent the development of corns or calluses, which often accompany bunions. - Taping or Splinting
If your bunion is still flexible, taping or splinting the affected toe into a more natural position can help reduce misalignment and ease discomfort. - Custom Orthotics
Heat-molded or custom orthotics are designed to provide extra support to your feet, particularly the big toe joint. These can help distribute pressure more evenly across your foot, improving foot function and preventing the bunion from getting worse. - Shoes with a Wider Toe Box
Wearing shoes that are too tight can exacerbate the discomfort caused by bunions. We recommend switching to footwear with a wider toe box to give your toes more room to move and reduce pressure on the bunion. Shoes with additional stability can also help prevent added stress on the forefoot. - Physical Therapy
Exercises that strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the foot can help alleviate tension around the bunion and improve overall foot stability. Physical therapy can also help improve flexibility and reduce discomfort. - Therapeutic Laser
Our FDA-approved Multiwave Locked System (MLS) therapy laser uses specific wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair. This revolutionary treatment is completely painless and highly effective.
While these conservative treatments can effectively manage the symptoms and make a noticeable difference in your daily life, there are cases where they are no longer sufficient.
When Surgery Becomes Necessary
If your bunion is causing significant pain, restricting your activities, or if conservative measures no longer provide relief, a surgical procedure may be required. Bunion surgery aims to realign the bones in your foot, remove any excess bone, and restore normal function.
The good news is that bunion surgery is highly effective, and most patients make a full recovery when they follow the correct procedure and post-surgical instructions. The goal of surgery is not only to relieve pain but also to allow you to return to your active lifestyle without restriction.
(Before and after bunion correction surgery)
Minimally-Invasive Bunion Surgery with Dr. Joel Foster
At our office, we offer minimally-invasive bunion correction surgery, a modern technique that has revolutionized how we approach bunion correction. Dr. Joel Foster, one of the most experienced minimally-invasive foot surgeons in the Kansas City area, has performed over 1,000 procedures using this technique.
Minimally-invasive surgery offers numerous benefits, including:
- Faster recovery times
- Reduced risk of infection
- Smaller incisions and less scarring
- Lower overall cost
By utilizing specialized tools and techniques, Dr. Foster is able to perform the surgery with precision while minimizing trauma to the surrounding tissues. This leads to quicker healing and less discomfort post-surgery compared to traditional open surgery.
How Much Will My Bunion Surgery Cost?
By utilizing specialized tools and techniques, Dr. Foster is able to perform the surgery with precision while minimizing trauma to the surrounding tissues. This leads to quicker healing and less discomfort post-surgery compared to traditional open surgery.
Traditional insurance-based healthcare often comes with hidden costs—deductibles, copays, facility fees, and surprise bills—all of which can drive up the price of surgery. With direct care, you know exactly what you're paying upfront, with no surprise bills.
Dr. Foster’s in-office bunion correction procedure is not only more affordable but also more convenient. You receive expert care without the hassle of insurance approvals, long wait times, or excessive fees. By choosing direct care, you get high-quality treatment at a transparent, fair price—so you can focus on your recovery, not your medical bills.
The average cost of bunion correction surgery ranges from $3,500 to $12,000. However, Dr. Foster performs an in-office bunion correction procedure for only $1,495!