What to know and do about bunions

The sight of a bunion on someone’s foot is all it takes to get your attention and to ask “how does someone get a bunion?”

What is a bunion?

Bunions are a deformity of the base joint of the big toe. There can be a variety of causes with a common one being poor fitting shoes that are too tight putting pressure on the big toe joint causing friction on the skin. Another possible cause could be a genetic tendency to have weakness at this joint and could also be associated with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Women are the main victims of bunions. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, more than a third of American women have bunions.

What do bunions look like?

Bunions can be identified by how they generally look on most people’s feet. The word bunion means “bump” which describes its characteristic appearance on the big or little toe side of the foot at the base of the toe. The big toe is usually angled towards the second toe with the deformity called a bunion. A bump is formed on the side at the base of the big toe with the skin and joints next to the affected joint thickening. This can lead to the thickened skin and joints becoming inflamed, swollen and painful.

What symptoms or problems are caused by bunions?

The number one symptom of a bunion is pain and irritation making walking difficult. There will be noticeable swelling and inflammation at the base of the toe which can be prone to becoming infected. Because of the deformity that can occur, the foot can widen to the point of making it difficult to find shoes wide enough to wear.

Arthritis is another problem that can happen in the toe joint. The big toe is not the only toe affected by a bunion – the second toe can also become deformed often by having the big toe crowd out or push the second toe up and out of place.

How are bunions treated?

The first thing to do is to wear proper fitting footwear. This does not cure the deformity but it can at least ease symptoms of pain and discomfort. It is advisable to get footwear advice from a podiatrist who is qualified to diagnosis and treat food disorders.

Here is some advice on how to treat bunions:

· Wear shoes that fit well and are roomy. A bunion usually leads to a widening of the forefoot requiring a wider size shoe for comfort.

· Avoid wearing high heeled, pointed or tight shoes

· To ease foot pain, soak feet by pouring a few tablespoons of Epsom salt into a basin filled with cool or lukewarm water to cover the ankles. Soak for about 5 to 15 minutes.

· Stretching exercises for bunions may help ease joint pain.

· Apply a topical analgesic that contains menthol or a similar ingredient to cause a cooling sensation.

· There are bunion relief devices that can help reduce pain and inflammation by reducing stress on the toe joint.

How to prevent bunions

There are several important things a person can do to prevent bunions from forming or getting worse. The following suggestions can make the difference of developing a bunion or keeping bunion-free:

· Women should wear lower heels choosing a wedge or chunky heels over stilettos to give more support to the foot. Also choose a round-toe pump over a pointy-toe shoe giving the toes more wiggle room.

· Choose comfortable shoes to walk in such as sneakers. Walking long distances in heels or other ill-fitting shoes will only worsen a bunion causing more pain and complications.

· Be aware that even flip-flops and ballet flats can cause bunions. If the shoe does not give good support for the feet it can cause them to roll inward.