You might have noticed a small bump on the side of the big toe which is due to an abnormality of the foot bones. The big toe leans towards the second toe rather than growing straight. This angle produces the bump known as a bunion that you see on your toe.
Bunion forms at the joint where our toe bends normally while walking. Initially, the bump is painless but with time it causes the toe to crowd together. This causes deformity and pain. The entire body weight rests on it every time you take a step to walk. This can hurt when you walk. Moreover, since your shoes are likely to rub against the bunion, it can also cause to form calluses.
Where to get bunions treated?
Bunions are treated by a podiatrist and if you are looking for a good Orange County podiatrist then consider making an appointment with Dr. SimaSoltani in her podiatric clinic. The clinic is dedicated to improving health through preventive measures and advised treatments that are related to foot trauma.
Dr. SimaSoltani specializes in less-surgical treatments. She has an experience of more than 20 years of treating patients with problems with feet and ankles.
At Dr. SimaSoltani’s podiatric clinic, you will get various kinds of services including surgery and bunion treatment, joints, hammertoes, ankle sprains, diabetic foot care, laser fungal nails, wound care, neuroma, sports injuries, custom orthotics, and diabetic shoes.
With the latest technologies, methods, and most profound patient care, the clinic is the most reliable Orange County podiatry clinic in Irvine, California.
Symptoms of Bunion
Bunions form slowly over time, in some cases even over years but they may be more annoying rather than painful. Gradually they can start hurting leading to several complications with time.
To checkif you have a bunion, see if you have an angular, bony bump on the sides of the foot, more at the base of the big toe. Check if that bump has become shiny and feels warm to touch then it is surely a bunion.
Other symptoms of a bunion are:
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Redness
- The big toe tuning towards the other toes
- Difficulty in moving the joint or toe
- Pain that might be constant or intermittent
- Corns or calluses
The pain due to a bunion might make things worse as you may have difficulty walking. You need to visit a podiatrist Irvine if you:
- Experience continuous foot pain
- Feel a huge lump on or near the big toe joint
- Are unable to move your big toe freely
- Can’t find shoes that would fit comfortably.
What causes a bunion?
Usually, bunions are thought to be genetic as they occur due to faulty feet structure which is inherited. However, it is the foot type that is passed on and not the bunion.
Bunions are a result when the normal force exerted on the foot joints and tendons gets disrupted leading to joint instability and causing deformity. It is due to years of abnormal pressure and motion on the foot joint due to which symptoms of a faulty foot develop that are usually caused by our walking posture, thetype of foot inherited, shoes, and other sources.
Some conditions that might cause bunions are:
- Flat feet
- Abnormal bone structure
- Too much flexibility of ligaments
Bunions can be aggravated by:
- Wearing too-small or tight shoes that cause cramping of toes thus, exerting pressure on the big toe
- Wearing high heels or pointed toes footwear too often that again forces the toes together
- Standing for extended periods
- Symptoms of feet arthritis
Treatment
When you visit an Irvine podiatrist for getting your bunion treated, the doctor will first check on the reasons why you have a bunion. The reasons will further help in diagnosing what kind of treatment is needed.
Your doctor may suggest ways for easing out pain and pressure that would include:
- Taking pain killers
- Applying ice on your bunion
- Wearing shoes with good feet space
- Wearing shoes with padded soles
- Adding cushions or pads that act as a buffer between the bump and the shoes
- Have your doctor pad or tape your foot into a normal position thus, reducing pressure on the bunions
- Wearing arch supports in your shoes that are available over-the-counter
If the non-surgical measures do not give you relief, then you might need foot surgery. Your podiatrist will recommend the best treatment for your case. However, most of the surgeries for correcting bunions include bunionectomy.
A Bunion surgery helps in curing this deformity.
- Straightens your big toe by removing some bone
- Removes swollen tissue from and around the toe joint
- Realigns the joint bones and corrects the abnormal angle
- Joins the bones in foot parts
Complete recovery from bunionectomy can take almost eight weeks while in most cases, you may start walking on your foot immediately after the procedure.
Bunions can be very uncomfortable and if left untreated, they can lead to several other foot-related complications. Visit a doctor soon if you have persistent pain while walking in even comfortable flat-soled shoes then you might be developing a bunion.