What is a Bunion and How to Deal With It
A bunion is a bony protuberance on the joint where the big toe joins with the major bones of the feet. This causes the tip of the big toe to tip towards the other toes, while the bony prominence at the base of the big toe moves outwards. This stretches it beyond its normal limits. This outward bony prominence can cause pain when it pushes against the walls of the shoe. Bunions also involve the outer joint of the small toe.
Bunions can occur on both males and females but are ten times more common among women due to wearing tight shoes, especially high heeled shoes. Other contributing factors are abnormal foot motion like ballet dancers dancing on point, people with arthritis, flat foot, poor foot mechanics, and bone deformities.
Initially, bunions do not show any signs and symptoms. But later on, usual symptoms are foot pain on the affected area especially when walking or wearing tight shoes. Pain is usually relieved when rested. As the bunion protrudes outwards, it gradually gets larger and larger causing more discomfort leading to intermittent to chronic foot pain at the base of the big toe.
Extreme pain in bunions is associated with redness, local tenderness and swelling of the soft tissues. It is necessary to differentiate the pain caused by a bunion to gout and gouty arthritis of the big toe as the pain is very similar.
An accurate method to differentiate a bunion from gout and gouty arthritis is by x-ray. On x-ray film, a physician can correctly determine the position of the toes and integrity of the joints.
Acute episodes of pain and swelling caused by bunions can be treated at home. Allowing the foot to rest and avoiding excessive walking may relieve some of the pain. Ice compression can also control the pain and swelling. Also, steroids injection may be given by your podiatrist to the affected foot.
In certain patients, ulcerations can occur on the affected area and this is when antibiotics are prescribed.
For long term pain, when all conservative measures have been exhausted yet no longer relieve any pain, surgery is the best option. Surgery involves removing the bunion and re-aligning the toe. This relieves foot pain and improves function of the foot. This particular operation is called bunionectomy.
Family Foot and Leg Center is a medical center specializing in healing health issues with lower leg and ankle. Come to us to get treatment for all your foot and lower leg disorders or obtain information about our practices at www.FamilyFootandLegCenter.com
Contact Details:
Clinical Director: Kevin Lam DPM
Company Name: Family Foot & Leg Center, P.A.
Company Address: 661 Goodlette Road, Suite 103
12250 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 101
Naples, FL
Work Phone: 239 430 3668
