Autumn is a painful time of year for many women in the four-state area.
As they transition from open-toed sandals to closed-in boots and shoes, foot and ankle surgeon Shelly D Sedberry, DPM, says she notices more women seeking relief for painful bunions. Sedberry has an office in Joplin, Mo. She says this trend plays out in the examining rooms of many foot and ankle surgeons every autumn.
“Some of my female bunion patients are in agony,” says Sedberry. “They describe a constant, throbbing pain, even when they take their shoes off.”
While the changing weather brings more bunion patients into her office, Sedberry says some women inquire about surgery in the fall because they’re less busy than in summer months. Many are also close to meeting their insurance deductibles.
Sedberry emphasizes that surgery is a last-resort treatment for women with painful bunions.
“For many women, simple changes like wearing shoes with wider toe boxes can significantly reduce bunion pain,” she says. “Custom shoe inserts, gel- or foam-filled padding and anti-inflammatory medications may also provide pain relief.”
When the pain of a bunion interferes with a woman’s daily activities, it’s time to discuss surgical options, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
For further information about various foot conditions, contact Shoal Creek Foot & Ankle Center by phone at (417) 622-0648 or by email at info@shoalcreekfac.com or visit www.foothealthfacts.org, sponsored by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Shoal Creek Foot & Ankle Center 