What Is a Bunion?
A bunion is an enlargement of the big toe joint—the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint—that forms when the bone or tissue at the big toe joint moves out of place. This forces the toe to bend toward the others, causing a lump of bone on the side of the big toe joint that cane be painful and/or inflamed. Crowding of the lesser toes can occur as the big toe pushes over towards the smaller toes.
Untreated bunions can cause varying degrees of pain and/or big toe joint stiffness and make it difficult to find comfortable shoes.
A bunion–from the Latin “bunio,” meaning enlargement–can also occur on the outside of the foot along the little toe, where it is called a “bunionette” or “tailor’s bunion.”
Symptoms
- Development of a firm bump on the outside edge of the foot, at the base of the big toe.
- Redness, swelling, or pain at or near the first MTP joint or great toe joint.
- Corns or other irritations of the second and/or other small toes as the big toe pushes over Restricted or painful motion of the big toe.
How Do You Get a Bunion?
There are various reasons for getting a bunion but the vast majority occur in feet that are predisposed to bunion formation. In other words the bunion is not inherited but rather the foot type. Feet that are predisposed to bunion formation are subject to abnormal forces through the big toe joint when walking that result in a gradual and usually slow progression of bunion formation.
Other causes of bunions are foot injuries, neuromuscular disorders, or congenital deformities. People who suffer from flat feet or low arches may also be prone to bunion formation, as are arthritic patients and those with inflammatory joint disease. Occupations that place undue stress on the feet can also be a factor; ballet dancers, for instance, often develop the condition.
Wearing shoes that are too tight or cause the toes to be squeezed can be an aggravating factor in predisposed feet, one that explains the high prevalence of the disorder among women.
What Can You Do For Relief?
- Apply a commercial, nonmedicated bunion pad around the bony prominence.
- Wear shoes with a wide and deep toe box.
- If your bunion becomes inflamed and painful, apply ice packs several times a day to reduce swelling.
- Avoid narrow toe box shoes and especially those with seams over the bunion.
- See your podiatric physician if pain persists.
Conservative Treatment For Bunion Pain
Treatment options vary with the type and severity of each bunion. Podiatric medical attention should be sought at the first indication of pain or discomfort to help you understand your bunion and potential treatments.
The primary goal of most early treatment options is to relieve pressure on the bunion and ease discomfort. A podiatric physician may recommend these treatments:
Accommodation of shoes and shoeware recommendations
Often the first step in a treatment plan.
Medication
Anti-inflammatory drugs and/or cortisone injection(s) may be prescribed to ease the acute pain and inflammations caused by the bunion.
Physical Therapy
May be used in certain cases to provide temporary relief of the bunion pain and inflammation. Ultrasound therapy is a popular technique for treating bunions and their associated soft tissue involvement.
Orthotics
Shoe inserts may be useful in controlling foot function and may reduce symptoms.
Surgical Options
When early treatments fail or the bunion progresses past the threshold for such options, bunion surgery may become necessary to relieve pressure and realign the toe joint. There are different types and degrees of bunions and different operations. There is not a universal bunion operation.
Careful examination of your foot should give a good idea about which bunion operation is best for you but ultimately the final procedure will be selected based upon the intraoperative findings and review of preoperative x-rays.
Recuperation takes time and is dependent on the type of operation.
Bunion Tips
- Wear comfortable shoes that conform to the shape of your foot.
- Wear shoes with a roomy toe box with a stiff sole and no seams over the bunion.
- Always fit the larger foot and have your feet sized each time you purchase shoes.
- Apply a commercial, nonmedicated bunion pad around the bony prominence.
- If your bunion becomes inflamed and painful, apply ice packs several times a day to reduce swelling.
- Seek professional podiatric evaluation and assistance with uncomfortable or noticeable bunions.
