Bunion

What is a bunion?

A bunion is a bony protrusion that usually forms on the joint at the bottom of the big toe. Bunions appear when your big toe is pushed against the second toe, causing the joint of the big toe to protrude outward. The skin covering the bunion becomes red and sore, making it difficult to wear shoes or walk without discomfort.

Acute bunions are the result of bursitis; adolescent bunions are common in teenagers. Smaller-sized bunions, known as a Tailor’s bunions -- sometimes called bunionettes -- can also develop on the base of your little toe.

What causes bunions?

The weight of the body falling unevenly on the tendons and joints of the feet often causes bunions. Many women who wear high-heeled shoes suffer from bunions, but men also get them. Bunions may also develop as the result of a structural defect in the foot, a foot injury, arthritis, or another medical condition.

What are the symptoms of bunions?

You may have a bunion if you experience:

• A protruding bump on the outside of the big toe
• Soreness, redness, or swelling around the joint of the big toe
• Corns or calluses between the first and second toes
• Intermittent or chronic pain in the big toe
• Limited mobility of the big toe

What are the treatment options for bunions?

Bunions won’t go away entirely unless Dr. Hetman removes them surgically; however, both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options are available to provide relief from the discomfort bunions cause.

Nonsurgical options include:

• Better-fitting shoes
• Over-the-counter bunion pads to cushion the toe
• Custom-fitted shoe inserts to evenly distribute pressure around the foot
• Applying ice to the big toe to reduce inflammation
• Over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and swelling

If these nonsurgical methods don’t provide relief or if the pain negatively impacts your daily life, you may need surgery. Surgical procedures for treating bunions include:

• Removal of tissue surrounding the joint of the big toe
• Removal of part of the bone in the big toe to straighten it out
• Bone realignment surgery to correct abnormal structure

Untreated bunions may result in more complicated foot conditions, and proper evaluation by a trained podiatrist will confirm a bunion and ensure the right treatment plan.

Call Dr. Hetman at Foot Specialists of Memorial, PA in Houston and Katy, Texas for an evaluation or book one online today.