Bunions are an affliction of the big toe, occurring when the bone or tissue at the base of the big toe becomes enlarged. The big toe may turn inward, a condition called angulation. Bunions are progressive. It is actually distinct bone formation at the base of the big toe that causes the toe to turn inward. Research shows that bunions are often genetic and have much to do with the tendons and ligaments in one's foot. Bones that are already deformed often cause a problem, with the angulation being natural. Some experts hold that bunions can be caused by improper footwear, while others concur that improper footwear only exacerbate the problem.
Bunions often affect women, some experts say because of constant pressure from wearing high heels. Bunions do not only occur at the base of the big toe - there is such a thing called a tailor's bunion, that is formed on the side of the pinky toe.
One can usually tell when they have a bunion: they may experience redness or swelling of the joint in the toe, irritated skin and lots of pain when walking. Angulation may come before or after this but experts hold that no matter what in the case of a bunion, the whole thing is gradually going to force the big toe to turn towards the other toes. Then again, there may be no symptoms whatsoever, minus the angulation. Fluid filled sacs may occur around the area, causing more pain and lots of swelling. If you have rheumatoid arthritis you could be more susceptible to bunions and shoes that crowd your toes might be harmful. When you are sure you have a bunion, seeing a podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon might be in your best interest, as it is a bone issue and not something you can readily treat at home.
When you visit a doctor, they will take x-rays of your foot. This will show any underlying problems and show the progression of the bunion itself. The x-ray will also predict the angulation and surmise the alignment of the toes. Then the doctor might tell a patient that he or she needs to wear wider shoes or even walking shoes to help realign the foot, and that aspirin may help with the inflammation. Occasionally, stretching exercises are given, and more often than not, the patient will end up with a bunion splint to wear at night. All of these things will provide relief, but if they don't one of several kinds of surgery may be necessary. A podiatrist can go in and remove the bump, and in severe cases, they may apply screws or plates to the bones in the great toe to realign them. They might also go in and try to repair the ligaments and tendons to change pull and pressure on the big toe and prevent new bunions from forming. In the event that you have had bunion surgery in the past, they might remove the affected joint altogether.
Bunions occur over a period of time, and can be warded off and even possibly prevented, save for those caused by genetic disorders that come along with aging. If your bunions are a result of wearing poorly fitting shoes, wearing wider shoes and taking care that your feet and toes are not cramped might be the solution that fixes your problem. If not, then surgery may be required, but it is a common procedure whose goal is to relieve pain and swelling while you walk. See one of our podiatrists for more information or if you think you have a bunion forming or have one already.
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