Bunion Treatment in Sterling Heights

What is bunions?

In a bunion (hallux valgus), the long first metatarsal bone angles outward while the big toe leans in toward its neighbors, leaving the joint between them bulging at the side of the foot. The bump isn't a growth sitting on the bone; it's the bone itself, out of position. That distinction drives everything about treatment: pads, spacers, and wider footwear can keep a bunion comfortable, sometimes for decades, but only surgery moves the bone back. Good bunion care is knowing which of those two paths your foot actually needs, and when.

How it's diagnosed at our Sterling Heights office

Dr. Repitor starts with where the pain actually lives, because the skin over the bump, the joint beneath it, and the crowded second toe each hurt differently and each calls for a different fix. He checks how far the toe still moves, how your mechanics feed the drift, and takes in-office X-rays to measure the deformity's angles. Those measurements stage the bunion and anchor an honest conversation about what's worth doing now versus later.

When to see a podiatrist

Book a visit when the bunion starts interfering: aching after workdays, rubbing raw inside your footwear, crowding the second toe, or looking visibly bigger than last year. Surgery doesn't need to be on the table for the visit to pay off. Most early bunions can be kept comfortable and working for years, and if correction is eventually needed, X-rays taken along the way make the timing decision far smarter.