Parkway Back and Foot Clinic for treating Bunions
The stress on the big toe joint with marked redness can cause pain and may develop a bunion. Wearing the right shoes can help!
What is a Bunion?
A bunion is a painful bony bump that develops on the inside of the foot at the big toe joint. Bunions are associated with hallux valgus, a condition where the big toe drifts toward the smaller toes and the outside of the foot.
Bunion pain develops over the bony bump caused by shoe irritation, and in the other toes, it can be due to crowding and altered mechanical forces in the ball of the foot.
Bunions can happen slowly. Pressure on the big toe joint causes the big toe to lean toward the second toe. Over time, the normal position of the bone, tendons, and ligaments changes, resulting in a bunion deformity. Often, this deformity gradually worsens over time and may make it painful to wear shoes or walk.
The big toe is made up of two joints. The largest of the two is the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), where the first long bone of the foot (metatarsal) meets the first bone of the toe (phalanx). Bunions develop at the MTP joint.
Bunions can develop in the youth and children who are actively involved in sports mainly skating or hockey. The stress caused on the joint, which causes it to bulge and become red. The big toe joint rubs to the skate or tight shoes causing stress.
Like the muscle, the bones undergo stress too!
Bunions are more common in women than men. Seventy percent of people who develop bunions have a family history, which suggests there is a large genetic component to developing bunions. This is especially true for adolescent bunions, which are acquired early in life.
If left untreated, a bunion can cause arthritis, especially if the joint in the big toe has sustained extensive, long-term damage. Bunions may cause the cartilage in the joint to deteriorate. Extreme cases may even require surgery to help alleviate unbearable pain posed by the inflammation. If there is a family history of bunions, then you are likely to suffer from bunions too1
What can you do about it?
- Wear appropriate shoe, do not wear tight shoes that is uncomfortable.
- Wear low heel shoes if you are going to walk for a longer distance.
- Stilettos should be worn only for a few hours, if not they may cause discomfort to the lower back & fore foot.
- Wear orthotics in your shoes which are inserted in your shoe to provide better support and comfort for bunions.
Wearing wider & comfortable shoes does not allow the stress to develop around the bone & that is how you can prevent bunion development.
- As soon as you feel or see your metatarsal arch collapsing or swelling on the big toe joint, you need to apply ice around that swollen area for 15-20 minutes to release the stress.
A chiropodist can help you choose a comfortable and wider shoe that will not encourage the bunions to grow any further. Do not ignore when your child repeatedly complains of pain after removing his shoe; it can cause permanent damage to the child's foot.
Chiropodists have extensive academic training in health sciences, podiatric medicine and humanities, which is complemented with clinical training at various approved facilities. They provide routine foot care (nails and skin), custom orthotic therapy, treatment and surgery for bunions, ingrown nails and various other specific treatments as part of an individualized plan of management for each patient.
We Can Help
Parkway Back and Foot Clinic chiropody services can benefit people of all ages and backgrounds including children, seniors, athletes and people with diabetes, arthritis and symptoms of overuse. In fact, anyone can benefit from chiropody care!
Danielle Willis, Chiropodist is happy to help you with all your foot care needs.