What is a Bunion?

Bunions are a progressive disorder. They begin with a leaning of the big toe, gradually changing the angle of the bones over the years and slowly producing the characteristic bump, which becomes increasingly prominent. Symptoms usually appear at later stages, although some people never have symptoms.

Causes

Bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the bunion it self that is inherited, but rather certain foot types that make a person prone to developing a bunion.

Although wearing shoes that crowd the toes won’t actually cause bunions, it sometimes can make the deformity become progressively worse. Symptoms occur most often when wearing shoes that crowd the toes, such as shoes with a tight toe box or high heels. This may explain why women are more likely to have symptoms than men. In addition, spending long periods of time on your feet can aggravate the symptoms of bunions. Symptoms may, therefore, appear sooner.

Symptoms

Symptoms, which occur at the site of the bunion, may include:
Pain or soreness
Inflammation and redness
A burning sensation
Possible numbness

Some of the common ways bunions can be treated are:
Bunion pad s – Bunion pad scan help relieve pressure on the sensitive area. Your Santa Fe podiatrist will be able to recommend the correct pad for your bunion.

Mole skin – A mole skin patch covers the bunion and pressure areas. This protects the bunion from being rubbed by shoes, which can result in blisters and other complications.

Wide shoes – Wearing shoes that have a wide toe box will provide room for the area around the toes. Tight, narrow, or high-heeled shoes put pressure on the bunion, which causes pain.

Medications – Medication can be used to alleviate some of the pain and swelling that is associated with bunions.

Ice – As with other injuries, icing the area can relieve pain and reduce the swelling. Ice can be applied to the joint for 10-20 minutes at a time. The foot should be elevated higher than the heart while icing.

Surgery – Necessary when bunion pain is intolerable, or affects your ability to wear shoes or when the bunion is progressively getting worse.

If you are experiencing a bunion deformity, you should seek the help of the knowledgeable foot and ankle specialists at Bunion SF.
Call 415-939-6987 today to schedule your appointment.