Learn more about bunion surgery and when it might be time to consider it.

You’ve been told that you have a bunion. Now what? While most people with bunions can ease pain and discomfort through sporting the proper footwear and changing their lifestyles, sometimes these habits just aren’t enough. When bunions have become so enlarged and painful that they impact your daily life, our San Francisco, CA, podiatrist Dr. Richard Rolfes can provide surgical relief to correct this common foot deformity.

Do bunions get worse?

Bunions are considered progressive. While wearing the appropriate shoes and properly caring for your feet can certainly slow the progression of this deformity, it will continue to grow larger over time. How quickly a bunion progresses varies from person to person. Some bunions develop rapidly while others may be slow to develop.

Is it time to consider bunion surgery?

This is the number one question we hear from our patients. They often don’t know if their bunion symptoms warrant getting surgery. Here are some signs that it might be time to talk with our San Francisco, CA, podiatry team about bunion surgery:

• You are dealing with constant and severe foot pain
• Your bunion limits your activities
• You are experiencing severe and persistent swelling
• It’s painful to wear shoes or to walk
• The bunion is very large
• The big toe is crossing over the smaller toes
• Over-the-counter or prescription painkillers aren’t touching the pain
• Home care isn’t enough to manage your symptoms
• Your quality of life has diminished due to your bunion

How is bunion surgery performed?

There are several surgical techniques for correcting bunions, and this is something that our San Francisco, CA, foot doctor will discuss with you during your evaluation. While there are various techniques for correcting this deformity they all involve repositioning the deformed joint back into the proper alignment to alleviate pain and improve mobility and functionality of the foot.

This surgical procedure is performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation. The procedure can take as little as 45 minutes or up to three hours, depending on several factors including the severity of the deformity and the technique Dr. Rolfes and his team utilizes.

From customized bunion treatment plans to minimally invasive bunion surgery, our San Francisco, CA, podiatrist Dr. Rolfes and the team at Stonestown Podiatry Group are here to make sure that your feet get the care they need so you can continue to live the life you want. To find out if it’s time to consider bunion surgery, call us at (415) 731-6700 to schedule an evaluation with our team.

At Stonestown Podiatry Group, Dr. Jasper Lee and Dr. Richard Rolfes treat patients with bunions. Bunions are fairly common, but it's important to treat them as soon as you notice symptoms to avoid the long-term effects. Come see us in San Francisco, CA, if you are suffering from bunions.

Bunions

A bunion is a bone deformity caused by the joint at the base of the toe enlarging. This forces the toe towards the other toes and a bump forms on the outside of the big toe. Some people have a genetic tendency to develop bunions, but they can happen to anyone. You may have a bunion if you have the following symptoms:

• A visible bump on the outside of the big toe joint
• Pain in the toe, especially when walking
• Redness or swelling of the joint
• Corns or calluses where the toes overlap

Bunions can be extremely painful because they rub against footwear. Bunions will only progressively get worse, so come to our San Francisco, CA, practice as soon as you notice these symptoms

Long Term effects

It's dangerous to leave bunions untreated. Bunions are bone deformities so they won't get better on their own. The big toe will be forced further over and overlap with the first toe. You will experience a limited range of motion in the toe joint and this will affect your balance.

Treatment options

If you have a bunion, the good news is there are a variety of treatments available. Your doctor will recommend wearing comfortable and supportive footwear as often as possible. Choose footwear that supports the arch and gives the toes plenty of room to wiggle to prevent bunions. Other treatments for bunions include:

• Bunion pads to limit chafing while walking
• Shoe inserts are orthotic devices that limit your pain as you walk
• Toe splints are typically worn overnight and help the joint realign
• A bunionectomy surgery is usually an option only after more conservative measures haven't helped relieve your pain

Stonestown Podiatry Group is here to help if you are suffering from bunions. Dr. Jasper Lee and Dr. Richard Rolfes diagnose and treat all common foot problems to keep you healthy and on your feet! Contact us for an appointment in San Francisco, CA, at (415) 731-6700.

Do you still have Athlete's foot despite using over-the-counter products? Your San Francisco, CA, podiatrists, Dr. Richard Rolfes and Dr. Jasper Lee of Stonestown Podiatry Group, offer effective treatments for the condition.

Relieving your Athlete's foot symptoms

Over-the-counter products can help control Athlete's foot symptoms, but the products aren't always as effective as the commercials and ads promise. Although drugstore anti-fungal products can relieve minor Athlete's foot infections, they may not be strong enough to tackle a severe infection.

Topical medications prescribed by your San Francisco foot doctor offer a better solution. Once applied to your feet, the prescription-strength medication penetrates deep into your skin, killing the fungus that causes Athlete's foot. In most cases, you'll need to use the medication for several weeks.

If the topical medication doesn't relieve your symptoms, your podiatrist may prescribe an oral anti-fungal medication. You may need to take the pills for several weeks or months.

When to see the podiatrist about Athlete's foot

It's a good idea to schedule a visit with your foot doctor if your symptoms aren't improving after two weeks of using over-the-counter medications or you have severe itching or pain. Call right away if you have broken blisters that have become infected. Signs of a bacterial infection can include oozing blisters, pus discolored skin, red streaks on your toes or feet, warmth, or fever.

Don't try to treat Athlete's foot at home if you have diabetes, as the disease may increase the likelihood that you'll develop a bacterial infection. Fortunately, prompt treatment from your podiatrist can help you avoid a painful infection.

How to avoid Athlete's foot in the future

Although prescription topical or oral medication can cure your current fungal infection, they can't prevent future infections. You can reduce your risk of another bout of Athlete's foot by:

• Wearing sandals in public locker and shower rooms and around swimming pools
• Using foot powder in your socks to decrease moisture
• Changing your socks and shoes mid-day if your feet tend to sweat
• Alternating shoes to give sweaty shoes plenty of time to dry out
• Washing socks, bedding, towels, and washcloths in 140F water to kill the fungi

Ease your uncomfortable Athlete's foot symptoms with a visit to your podiatrists in San Francisco, Dr. Rolfes, and Dr. Lee. Call Stonestown Podiatry Group at (415) 731-6700 to schedule your appointment.

Foot health is worth preserving. At Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA, we treat hammertoes and other foot deformities as early as possible. Our foot doctors, Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes, and Dr. Jasper Lee, relieve the pain and mobility limitations characteristic of hammertoes so you can walk well and feel good.

What are hammertoes?

Hammertoes are common deformities of the second through fifth toes. Because of muscular contraction and bending of the bone at the middle joints, hammertoes look like little mallets or hammers. Over time, they worsen, causing:

• Pain when ambulating
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Redness
• Sores and calluses on upper surfaces of the toes as they contact the inside of shoes
• Poor shoe fit

What causes hammertoes?

Many factors play a role in the formation and progression of hammertoes. Weak muscles and connective tissue in the toes contribute as does heredity, gender, and shoes which are cramped and tight in the toes. As such, more women than men develop hammertoes.

Additionally, people with untreated bunions often get hammertoes, too. As the big toe turns inward because of a bunion, the resulting pressure cramps the smaller toes. Over time, you develop hammertoes.

Can they be treated?

The good news is yes, hammertoes can be treated. At Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA, Drs. Alberts, Rolfes, and Lee inspect suspected hammertoes and take digital X-rays if deemed necessary.

Some patients require surgical straightening of their toe joints, along with corn and callus removal. These procedures improve range of motion, says the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).

However, most people need no surgical intervention at all, responding well to measures such as:

• Shoe padding and inserts called orthotics which correct muscular imbalances
• Shoes with comfortable room in the toes
• NSAIDs to relieve pain
• Splints to straighten the toes

Let Stonestown Podiatry Group help

Hammertoes are serious, but they can be treated. If your foot structure looks different, and you have pain and soreness, please contact your podiatrist at Stonestown Podiatry Group. Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes, and Dr. Jasper Lee will deliver the best outcomes for you and your feet. Please contact our office in San Francisco, CA, for a consultation at (415) 731-6700.

If you had an automotive problem, would you see a plumber? So, if you have a problem with your feet and ankles--or wish to prevent one--see a podiatrist. Experts in the structure, function, and health of your lower extremities, the team at Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA, help people stay mobile and feeling good. Learn more about why you should see Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes, or Dr. Jasper Lee.

Why see a podiatrist?

Frankly, they're an expert in foot and ankle care. Over time, your lower extremities can develop problems you may never have anticipated. Or, an existing condition may become more difficult to manage.

Accordingly, you should visit your podiatrist in his San Francisco, CA, office. He will examine your feet, take X-rays, do a gait analysis as needed, and recommend treatments to ensure your feet look, feel, and function well.

Ten signs it's time to see your podiatrist

Need more detailed information? Read these guidelines about visiting your podiatrist at his San Francisco CA office:

1. You are diabetic. Minimally, see your podiatrist once a year--more if you have active disease processes or deformities. Diabetics are at risk for amputation as their condition impairs nerve sensation, healing, immunity, and circulation. Your foot doctor can prevent problems from spiraling out of control.

2. Your feet hurt even after you rest them. If you're in pain for more than a day, come see us.

3. You have begun a new sport or exercise routine. Runners, take note. Getting in shape is great but puts you at risk for sprains, fractures, and inflammatory conditions such as painful plantar fasciitis.

4. You have thick corns or calluses. These skin overgrowths impact your mobility, but never attempt surgery at home. Your podiatrist will remove them safely, avoiding infection.

5. Your feet have changed color. They have an overall dusky look or have areas that are red, purple, or white. This may indicate impaired circulation. Slowly healing sores need prompt attention, too.

6. You have an ingrown toenail. This hurts and rarely improves by itself. See your podiatrist for partial nail removal and for ways to trim your nails properly.

7. Your feet look deformed. Arthritis, benign neuromas, and bunions change the appearance of your feet but are corrected or limited with prompt podiatric management.

8. You walk funny. Maybe you roll one foot inward or have other gait issues. You may need shoe orthotics (customized inserts) to correct the problem.

9. You cannot conquer your athlete's foot. Stronger medication and some information on prevention will help.

10. You work on your feet a lot. Your podiatrist can recommend ways to take the stress off your feet and ankles.

Contact us

At Stonestown Podiatry Group, we can recommend the best management and treatment strategies so your feet stay healthy. For an in-office consultation, contact your podiatrists, Dr. Richard Rolfes, Dr. Daniel Alberts, or Dr. Jasper Lee, in San Francisco CA at (415) 731-6700.