Are you suffering from toe pain caused by a bunion in Oakville? We have the treatment you need to get your life back to normal. Our non-invasive bunion treatment protocol has helped hundreds of people in the Oakville and Burlington area. Dr. Steve has a specific protocol to help patients with their bunion pain. Shockwave Therapy is the gold standard for treating bunions. Dr. Steve uses a combination of treatments before starting shockwave to prime the toe for treatment!
What is Anatomy of a Bunion?
A bunion is characterized by the tip of the big toe moving towards the smaller toes. A bony bump develops on the inside of the the big toe that can become painful, inflamed and “stuck”. Tight shoes and genetic attributes could be a cause of a bunion. The pain from the bunion could be felt along the inside of the big toe, on the new bony bump, between the toes or even in other places within the toes and foot. As stated above this pain can be caused by the big toes pushing into the smaller toes or due to the biomechanics of walking becoming altered due to the position of the bunion.
What is the Best Bunion Treatment? – Shockwave
Bunion treatment at our Oakville clinic focuses on improving range of motion and decreasing pain of the patients big toe and foot. A combination of Suction IFC, Heat, Shockwave Therapy, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue and Active Release Therapy is used to help the patient heal. Patients are sent home with icing instructions, doctor approved footwear advice and some sort of toe separator/bracing.
- Suction IFC – In most cases Bunion Treatment at our Oakville clinic begins with Suction Interferential Current Therapy. The suction pads are strategically placed for the patients specific type of bunion. The IFC is used to control pain and combined with heat allows for a ton of blood flow to the patients bunion and foot.
- Shockwave Therapy – Shockwave is a air powered gun that “shoots” a bullet against an applicator head. At our Oakville clinic we use a specific applicator head to allow a more comfortable treatment for patients with big toe pain. Most patients receive between 1200 and 1500 hits between 0.3BAR and 2BAR for the shockwave modality.
- Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue – After the shockwave therapy, Dr. Steve will use his “scraper” tool to release the soft tissue around the big toe. Dr. Steve will work the tissue on both the top and bottom of the foot, as well as around the toe and the side of the bunion.
- Active Release Therapy for Bunions – Hands on treatment will be done to finish the patients treatment. Patients will be sent home with icing instructions and bracing on a individual patient basis.
Are Orthotics good for Bunions?
In most cases Dr. Steve will recommend specific shoes to help with patients bunions. After a succession of treatments and the patients bunion pain has been resolved, our treatment team will recommend custom orthotics to help control the big toe in the future. Our custom orthotics are designed using a modern pin system that allows for both a weight bearing and non-weight bearing scan of the foot which is imperative, especially with big toe and bunion pain.
Bunion FAQS
1. Are bunions always painful?
No, not all bunions are painful. However as the big to starts to move inward more the patient can get other problems.
2. What is the main cause of bunions?
Bunions can be caused from repetitive micro traumas, bad shoes, genetics, injuries or even increase walking/running.
3. What’s the best treatment for bunions?
A combination of toe spacers, proper shoes and shockwave therapy, along with some very specific custom orthotics.
4. Can bunions go away?
No, you can prevent them from getting worse and help control the pain and the progression of the bunion from turning inward.
5. What age do bunions start?
Bunions are most common in adults but can start as a teenager if the patient has a genetic condition or severe injury.
6. Who usually gets bunions?
Bunions are more common in women but can happen in men. In most cases years of bad shoes or poor genetics are the cause.
7. What shoes are the best for bunions?
Shoes with a large toe box are best for most patients. Do not wear high heels are tight fitting shoes with bunions.