Bunions
What is a Bunion?
The common Bunion is a localized area of enlargement of the inner portion of the joint at the base of the big toe. The enlargement actually represents additional bone formation, often in combination with a misalignment of the big toe.
As a result, the normal position of the big toe (straight forward) becomes outward-directed toward the smaller toes. The enlarged joint at the base of the big toe (the first metatarsophalangeal joint) can become inflamed with redness, tenderness, and pain. A small fluid-filled sac (bursa) adjacent to the joint can also become inflamed (bursitis) leading to additional swelling, redness, and pain.
What are symptoms of bunions?
Symptoms occur most often when wearing shoes that crowd the toes—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, which occur at the site of the bunion, may include:
- Pain or soreness
- Inflammation and redness
- A burning sensation
- Perhaps some numbness
Other conditions which may appear with bunions include calluses on the big toe, sores between the toes, ingrown toenail, and restricted motion of the toe.
Causes
Bunions develop over time due to abnormal motion and pressure on your big toe joint. Bunions can also occur on the joint of your little toe (bunionette).
Women develop Bunions more often then men
Bunions may be associated with various forms of arthritis, including inflammatory or degenerative forms, causing the protective cartilage that covers your big toe joint to deteriorate. An occupation that puts extra stress on your feet or one that causes you to wear pointed shoes also can be a cause. For example, dancers and cowboys are more prone to developing bunions.
Bunions most commonly affect women. Some studies report that Bunions occur nearly 10 times more frequently in women then men.
It has been suggested that tight-fitting shoes, especially high-heel and narrow-toed, might increase the risk for bunion formation.
Bunions are reported to be more prevalent in people who wear shoes than in barefoot people. There also seem to be inherited (genetic) factors that predispose to the development of bunions, especially when they occur in younger individuals.
Other risk factors for the development of bunions include congenital (present from birth) abnormal formation of the bones of the foot, nerve conditions that affect the foot, rheumatoid arthritis, and injury to the foot.
Treatment Options
Treatment options vary depending upon the severity of the bunion and the level of pain that it causes. Treating the bunion early is best as it decreases the risk of developing joint deformities.
Non-Surgical
Nonsurgical treatments that may relieve the pain and pressure of a bunion include, but are not limited to shoe modification, padding and taping your foot in a normal position to help alleviate pain, shoe inserts (orthotics) or medications such as NSAIDS or cortisone injections.
Surgical Options
If conservative treatment doesn’t provide relief from your symptoms, you may need surgery. A number of surgical procedures are performed for bunions, and no particular surgery is best for every problem. Knowing what caused your bunion is essential for choosing the best procedure to ensure correction without recurrence. Most surgical procedures include a bunionectomy. To learn more about a bunionectomy, click here.
