Bunions

A bunion is a misalignment of the joint that sits at the base of your big toe. A common foot health issue, bunions can be both unsightly and uncomfortable.

Bunions develop when the bones in the front portion of your foot shift out of position. This allows the tip of your big toe to point inward toward your smaller toes, causing the joint to bulge outward toward the inside edge of the foot.

While many foot health problems are challenging to diagnose, bunions present clear symptoms, beginning with a visibly deformed joint that creates a large, bony protrusion. Additional symptoms include:

• Redness or swelling at the base of your big toe
• Limited movement in your big toe
• Corns or calluses where your first and second toes touch
• Foot pain that can be steady or intermittent

Don’t accept these changes as inevitable when there are treatments that can help.

Some people are born with structural deformities in their feet that increase their risk of bunions, and certain inherited foot shapes also leave you at an elevated risk for this type of joint problem.

People with rheumatoid arthritis often develop bunions. Foot injuries or stress can also contribute to joint problems in the front portion of the foot.

While researchers disagree on the role that footwear plays in developing bunions, it seems clear that certain types of shoes place abnormal stress on your feet, including high heels or shoes with limited room in the toe box area.

A simple examination is often all that’s needed to diagnose a bunion. X-rays may be needed to gain more information about your bone structure and guide treatment planning.

For people with mild bunions, changing your footwear and using specially designed padding or shoe inserts is sometimes all that’s needed to treat bunions. Mild discomfort can be addressed using over-the-counter pain medications.

More complex joint deformities may need advanced intervention. Surgical treatment options include removing part of the bone or excess tissue to improve joint alignment, fusing certain bones together to prevent future shifting, or surgical realignment of the bones in the front portion of your foot.