What are bunions?
A bunion a type of foot deformity that results from your big toe moving out of place. When you have a bunion, the joint at the base and side of your big toe gets larger and sticks out. This causes a noticeable bump to form, which may be red, swollen, and sore.
Normally, your big toe points straight ahead. Bunions form when your big toe is forced inward, toward your second toe.
Bunions develop gradually. At first, there’s a small bump. It may cause some discomfort, and you may not like how it looks, but it’s small enough to ignore.
Ignoring a bunion is a mistake, even if it doesn’t seem like such a big deal now. Over time, the angle of your big toe becomes more severe, and the bump gets larger and more painful. Your big toe can eventually put pressure on your second toe, and so on.
Untreated bunions can lead to serious chronic pain that makes it difficult to walk or wear shoes. They can also cause other foot deformities, including hammertoe, and lead to significant problems with the alignment of your feet.
What causes bunions?
Bunions are usually the result of shoes that are too tight and crowd the toes. They’re more common in women than men, but more because of fashion than biology—shoe styles like high heels and stilettos are some of the worst culprits. However, any shoes that are too tight or small can contribute to bunions.
Though you don’t inherit bunions, they do tend to run in families. You’re more likely to develop them if you inherit certain foot structures, including flat feet, an inward-pointing big toe, or a long second toe. They may also follow foot injuries or accompany neuromuscular issues.
How are bunions treated?
Bunions are easiest to treat if you seek treatment as soon as possible. Ideally, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Jurcisin as soon as you notice signs of a bunion. Your bunion will get worse if you keep wearing tight-fitting shoes, and will require more involved treatment.
Conservative treatment for bunions involves relieving the pressure and pain on your big toe joint. It’s important to wear shoes that fit properly, and Dr. Jurcisin may also recommend protective padding to relieve friction, as well as or orthotics, or shoe inserts, to stabilize the joint and keep your feet in the proper position.
If your bunion causes you discomfort, Dr. Jurcisin may prescribe or recommend anti-inflammatory or pain medication in addition to changing your footwear.
If you have a large bump, significant misalignment of your toes, or are in serious pain, you may need surgery. This procedure, known as a bunionectomy, involves removing the bunion and realigning the toe.
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