Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment For Bunions

Your feet play an extremely vital role in your daily life, and any pain or discomfort in your feet, toes, or ankles can have serious repercussions and affect your happiness and productivity. It is essential, then, that we take care of our feet and ankles to the best of our abilities, and this includes contacting a foot and ankle specialist if there seems to be a problem with your feet. 

One condition that may not appear to be extremely serious but can have a severely negative impact on your life is the occurrence of bunions on your toes. Whether it is the shoes you are wearing, the shape of your foot, or the result of another medical condition, bunions can be detrimental to your overall quality of life.

What Is A Bunion?

Essentially, a bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe as a result of the bones in the front part of your foot moving out of place. The tip of your big toe then gets pulled toward the smaller toes which causes the joint at the base of the big toe to stick out. A bunion may be recognizable when the skin over it becomes red and sore.

Causes Of Bunions

While the exact cause of bunions is largely debated in the medical world, factors that have been known to cause bunions to include certain inherited foot types, foot stress or injuries, and deformities at birth. They might also be associated with some types of arthritis, especially the particularly inflammatory types such as rheumatoid. 

Some medical professionals have also argued that wearing certain kinds of shoes may be a cause of bunion development. If your shoes are too tight, too narrow, or have high heels, you may be at risk for bunions because the shoes will crowd your toes when they are forced into a tight space such as the front tip of the shoe.

Symptoms Of Bunions

If you are unsure of whether or not you are dealing with the painful effects of a bunion, here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of the condition:

• Bulging bump on the outside of the base of the big toe
• Swelling, redness, or soreness around the joint
• Corns or calluses (often where the first and second toes rub together)
• Pain
• Limited movement

While bunions often do not need professional medical treatment, it is best to seek out the medical advice of our foot and ankle specialist at Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute in our Provo office.

Treatment For Bunion Pain Relief

There are several, easy treatments that you can do at home for bunion pain relief which are nonsurgical. Simple changes such as wearing roomy, more comfortable shoes which provide lots of space for your toes. Investing in over-the-counter, non-medicated bunion pads or padded shoe inserts can offer substantial relief to your pain and discomfort. Applying ice and taking non-prescription medications such as Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve can also be helpful.

If your bunions have progressed to a more severe condition, there are surgical options that you can discuss with our foot doctor in Provo, Utah, to provide you with the bunion pain relief you need and deserve.

Contact Our Foot Doctor In Provo, Utah

At Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute, we understand how painful bunions can be and how disruptive that pain can be to your daily life. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above and think you might have a bunion, contact us to make an appointment with our foot and ankle specialist. We are dedicated to getting you back on your feet and living the best life you can.