Matthew D. Neuhaus, DPM
300 Stonecrest Blvd. Suite 350
Smyrna, TN 37167
(615) 220-8788
Located on the 3rd Floor of the Physician Office Building at StoneCrest Medical Center

What is a Bunion?

Bunions are often described as a bump on the side of the big toe, but in all actuality, a bunion is much more than that. The visible bump actually reflects the change in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. With a bunion, the big toe leans toward the second toe more, rather than pointing straight ahead. This change throws the bones out of alignment producing the bunion's “bump.” A bunion is a progressive disorder, beginning with the leaning of the big toe and gradually changing the angle of the bones over the years. Through this, the bump becomes increasingly prominent. Usually the symptoms of bunions appear at later stages, although some people never have symptoms.

What causes a Bunion and how is a Bunion diagnosed?

Before

Bunions are most often caused by and inherited trait regarding the mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the bunion itself that is inherited, but certain foot types that make a person prone to developing a bunion. Although wearing inappropriate shoes that crowd the toes won't actually cause bunions in the first place, it sometimes makes the deformity become progressively worse. In other words, sometimes wearing these types of shoes could cause you to experience the symptoms of the bunion sooner.

Bunions are readily apparent- you can see the prominence at the base of the big toe or the side of the foot. However, to fully evaluate your condition, the podiatrist may take x-rays to determine the degree of the deformity and assess the changes that have occurred. Because bunions are progressive, they do not go away, and will usually get worse over time. But not all cases are alike- some bunions progress more rapidly than others. Once your podiatrist has evaluated your particular case, a treatment plan can be developed that is suited to your needs.

Bunion symptoms most often occur when wearing shoes that crowd the toes (most likely shoes with a tight toe box or high heels). This may explain why women are more likely to have such symptoms rather than men. Other symptoms include:

Pain or soreness at the site of the bunion especially after wearing crowded shoes.
A burning sensation after pressure is put upon the bunion site.
In more serious cases, some numbness may occur
Calluses on the big toe or sores between the toes.
Ingrown toenails on the big toe
Restricted motion of the toe because of the increased pain along the site.

Treatment for a bunion sometimes includes just observation. A periodic office evaluation and x-ray examination can determine if your bunion deformity is advancing, thereby reducing your chance of irreversible damage to the joint. However, in many cases some other type of treatment is needed. Early treatments are aimed at easing the pain of bunions, but they won't reverse the deformity itself. These other nonsurgical treatments include:

Nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen may help reduce the pain and inflammation.
Ice on the inflamed area several times a day to help reduce the inflammation and pain.
Placing padding over the area of the bunion can help minimize the pain. You can get bunion pads from your podiatrist or purchase them at a drug store.
Avoiding activities that cause bunion pain, including standing for long periods of time.
Changing the types of shoes you wear is very important when it comes to wearing the right kind of shoe. Choose shoes that have a wide toe box and forgo those with pointed toes or high heels which may aggravate the condition. Our video on the best shoe selection may be beneficial to you when finding the right shoe to wear.
Injection therapy is rarely used from bunion treatment. However, in some cases, injections of corticosteroids may be useful in treating the inflamed bursa (fluid-filled sac located in a joint) sometimes seen with bunions.
Custom orthotic devices may be provided by the podiatric surgeon. These devices can be worn inside all your shoes and help relieve bunion pain.

When is surgery needed for a Bunion?

When the pain of a bunion interferes with daily activities, it's time to discuss surgical options with a podiatric surgeon. Together you can decide if surgery is best for you. Recent advances in surgical techniques have led to a very high success rate in treating bunions. A variety of surgical procedures are performed to treat bunions. The procedures are designed to remove the “bump” of bone, correct the changes in the bony structure of the foot, as well as correct soft tissue changes that may also have occurred. The goal of these corrections is the elimination of pain itself. In selecting the procedure or combination of procedures for your particular case, the podiatrist will take into consideration the extent of your deformity based on the x-ray findings, your age, your activity level, and other factors. The length of the recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure or procedures performed.

After

Click the book

below to Order Your Complimentary Copy of "Foot Health 101: Healthy Feet are Happy Feet."

“I wrote this book because too many people suffer from foot
and ankle pain unnecessarily.”
-Dr. Matthew Neuhaus