The right treatment can help you get back to training, competing, and winning without constant pain holding you back.
At Advanced Orthopaedic Associates, our fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopedic specialists, including experts in foot and ankle surgery and sports medicine, understand how bunions can limit training, competition, and recovery. We help athletes in Wichita, KS, and nearby areas like Wellington and Winfield, beat bunions and reclaim their confidence. If you’re wondering whether it’s time to think about bunion surgery, this blog is for you.
Signs It May Be Time to Consider Surgery
Bunion surgery is rarely the first step. Many athletes find relief with shoe changes, joint padding, custom orthotics, or activity modification — at least in the earlier bunion stages. These nonsurgical measures can help control pain and may slow bunion progression.
But bunions won’t go away without surgical treatment. Surgery may be the best option if you have:
- Persistent pain during or after sports, despite conservative care
- Pain that limits training time or forces you out of competition
- Noticeable changes in foot shape that affect balance or gait
- Inflammation and swelling that doesn’t improve with rest
- Reduced range of motion in the big toe joint
For athletes, delaying surgery too long can lead to a worsening bunion, triggering changes in the way you walk or move. This shift puts extra strain on other joints or muscles, which can lead to compensation injuries, including new problems like ankle, knee, hip, or back pain over time.
How Bunion Surgery Helps Athletes
Bunion surgery typically involves reducing the bony bump, realigning the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) toe joint, and correcting the foot’s bony framework to restore proper foot mechanics and prevent bunion recurrence.
Our experienced foot and ankle surgeons typically perform bunion surgery on an outpatient basis, using minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.
Our team designs a customized recovery regimen featuring rest, gradual return to weight-bearing, and a return to normal activities, including your sport.
Our surgeons work with you to plan surgery around your training and competition schedule, always emphasizing safety as a top priority.
Foot and Ankle Surgery Consultations in Wichita, KS
If bunion pain is affecting your performance or quality of life, it may be time to talk to a specialist. Call Advanced Orthopaedic Associates at 316-631-1600 to book a consultation in Wichita, KS.
