Bunions can be painful and unattractive. Worse yet, they can cause serious issues with mobility and can cause pain when shoes are worn. Finding the right solutions for these issues can be challenging. Understanding how bunions develop and how they can be treated is essential to ensure the best outcomes for your feet and your future mobility.
What Are Bunions?
A bunion is a bump that develops on the base of the big toe. This bump occurs because of displacement of some of the bones that support the front of your foot. This causes the big toe to move inward and to point toward the other toes. As a result, the joint at the base of your big toe protrudes outward, making it difficult to wear shoes comfortably and, in some cases, causing pain when you walk or run. Bunions require treatment by a trained podiatrist to address the underlying causes for these conditions and to promote healing and mobility for you and your family members.
Symptoms of Bunions
Patients with bunions often complain of recurring pain in their feet and limited movement of the affected big toe. In most cases, a bulge or bump is visible or can be felt on the side of the big toe. Other symptoms may include some or all of the following:
- Corns or calluses on the side of the big toe or between the big toe and the toe next to it
- Swelling and redness at the big toe joint
- Pain when walking or wearing shoes
Bunions can also make it difficult to find shoes that fit properly and to walk for any extended distance without pain and discomfort.
What Causes Bunions?
Bunions may be caused by a number of different factors. Improper footwear can sometimes force the big toe into an abnormal position, which can contribute to the development of bunions. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may also be more susceptible to these podiatric issues. There may also be a genetic component at work in the development of bunions in some patients.
Preventing Bunions
While not all cases of bunions can be prevented, choosing the right footwear can make a significant difference in your risk of developing this issue. Shoes that fit properly, offer good support and are wide enough and long enough for your toes can prevent bunions that are related to poorly fitting or improperly designed footwear choices.
Treatment Focused on Pain Relief
At Tievsky Podiatry, our first priority when treating your bunions is to relieve pain and discomfort while maintaining your mobility. We can offer non-surgical and surgical options for treating your bunions. The first step in your treatment process is usually taking an X-ray of the affected foot to determine the precise nature of the problem. We will then develop a treatment plan that works for you and that may include some of the following steps:
- Prescribing orthotic devices, shoe inserts or specialized footwear to take pressure off your bunions
- Recommending medications or offering cortisone injections to address pain associated with this foot condition
- Applying ice to the area of the bunion to relieve pain and swelling
Surgical options may include removing part of the bone of the toe, fusing the bones of your toe permanently or removing some of the swollen tissue to allow the toe to return to its normal position.
At Tievsky Podiatry, we can provide the most appropriate treatment options for our patients. Our office is conveniently located within a short drive of Oradell, Maywood, Ridgewood, River Edge, Glen Rock, Paramus and Fair Lawn to make it easy for you to get the care you need for your feet and ankles. Give us a call today at 201-608-0688 to schedule an appointment with our team. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.
