What You Need to Know About Bunions

Patients come to our office for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s for their yearly scheduled visit or preventative care. Most often, it’s due to some foot or ankle pain. One of the most common conditions we see is a bunion.

What is a Bunion?

A bunion is a displaced joint. It usually occurs between the big toe and the long bone just behind it. It starts as a tiny bulge on the side of your toe. Over time this bulge gets larger and larger until it's hard to fit into a shoe and ignore. As the bulge increases, the big toe will start to point in the opposite direction of the bulge. Sometimes the bunion is so severe that the toe’s new angle makes it so that it overlaps or underlaps with the other toes on the foot. This makes the foot deformed and can cause a lot of pain and suffering for the patient.

Common Signs and Symptoms

The most characteristic sign of a bunion is a hard, bony bump at the base of the big toe, where it meets the inner edge of the foot. The change in the joint often causes the big toe to move out of line with the other toes and point more inwardly. You might also notice redness, swelling, pain, difficulty wearing shoes, standing, walking, or exercising.

Causes of a Bunion

A lifetime of poor footwear choices – including pointy, high heels – is the most common cause of bunions and is more commonly found in women than men. Other common causes include family history and occupations requiring long-standing hours, such as teaching or working in a pharmacy. Some sports injuries can also result in a bunion.

How Can You Treat a Bunion?

Your podiatrist has many options to treat a bunion, some of which are non-invasive. Common approaches include over-the-counter and prescription medication for pain and swelling, new footwear, and custom orthotics for improved cushioning and support while wearing shoes. 

At Knight Foot and Ankle Care, Dr. Knight has years of experience and is the best-qualified specialist to perform surgery on your feet or ankles. A bunionectomy surgery is sometimes the best choice to correct a bunion but is usually reserved for more severe cases.

To schedule a comprehensive examination, call our office at (405)-513-0385, or visit our website for more information.