Bunions 101

A bunion is a bony protrusion that is formed at the joint, they commonly occur below the 1st or big toe. A bunion that progresses may affect the alignment of other toes and cause other toe deformities such as hammertoe. Some early signs of bunions may be swelling, redness, or soreness in the area around the big toe. If the toes begin rubbing against each other, a person may also develop corns or calluses.

What Causes a Bunion?

Common causes of a bunion may include:

Having a medical condition - such as rheumatoid arthritis, or a neuromuscular condition

Heredity – some people inherit feet that are more likely to develop bunions due to their shape and structure

Wearing poorly fitting shoes —in particular, shoes with a narrow, pointed toe box that forces the toes into an unnatural position

What is My Condition?

Your bunion will be assessed by your doctor, but can be categorized into three general buckets – Mild, Moderate and Severe, and can be confirmed via x-ray. As the deformity progresses, you may find difficulty fitting into traditional shoe wear and may notice pain and discomfort with basic physical activity. Surgery may be required as other portions of the foot may be impacted with deformity progression.

Mild Bunion
Resemblance of a bump starts to form on the inside of your toe which could start to rub against the inside of a  shoe, but may not cause any discomfort.

Moderate Bunion
Bump is a bit larger with a potential of redness. Discomfort while performing normal day to day activities may be present.

Severe Bunion
Bump is very prominent with the big toe facing toward other toes. Constant discomfort and pain may be present. 

How are Bunions Diagnosed?

During a clinical exam, the doctor will look at the appearance of your foot and toe positioning manually assessing the range of motion of the toe to determine what the best course of action is depending on the severity of the deformity. The doctor will palpate further up the toe towards the ankle and assess for instability. X-rays of the toe will be gathered to aid in determining the severity of the deformity.

What if I do nothing?

Early stage bunion deformities can gradually worsen over time with the associated symptoms:



Increased and Worsening Discomfort/Pain - Untreated bunions can lead to significant swelling, pain, and cosmetic changes.5

Osteoarthritis or Bursitis - If the joint(s) impacted by the deformity have sustained extensive damage, the cartilage in the joint may begin to deteriorate, causing the bones which make up the toe to rub together.

Crossover Toe - With progression of the deformity, the second toe may deviate over the first toe causing pain, callusing, and even ulceration of the second toe.3,4

 

What are my Treatment Options?

There are several treatment options depending upon the severity of your bunion

 

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