Even walking may become difficult. Especially in older women, foot disorders are a major cause of disability and sedentary habits. Older women are more likely to have bunions as they get older, and the more severe their bunions are, the lower their quality of life is.
You should seek treatment if the pain and deformity interfere with daily routines and physical activity. The first step is to relieve the pressure by wearing the right kind of shoe. It's also important to maintain a normal weight. Shoes should have a wide, flexible sole to support the foot and enough room in the toe box the part surrounding the front of the foot to accommodate the bunion. Some good choices are sandals, athletic shoes, and shoes made from soft leather.
Shoes with a back should have a sturdy heel counter the part surrounding the heel to keep the heel of the foot snugly in place. You may be able to reshape narrow shoes with stretchers that make room in the toe box for the bunion.
Keep heels low no higher than an inch. You can also protect the bunion with a moleskin or gel-filled pad, available at drugstores. Make sure your shoes have enough space to accommodate it. A clinician may recommend semisoft orthoses shoe inserts to help position the foot correctly as it strikes the ground. You can also wear a splint at night to hold the toe straight and ease discomfort. When the bunion is irritated and painful, warm soaks, ice packs, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen may help.
Whirlpool, ultrasound, and massage may also provide some relief. Cortisone injections can relieve pain temporarily by reducing inflammation, but they have many side effects, especially when used often and at high doses. American Podiatric Medical Association www. American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons www.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons www. Foot Health Facts www. If conservative measures fail and you still have pain that interferes with daily activities, you may need surgery to restore the toe to its normal position. Never undertake bunion surgery merely for cosmetic purposes, and never rush into it.
You won't necessarily get rid of all your symptoms, and you'll have to stay off your foot for many weeks. Complete recovery can take a year or more, depending on the procedure. As with any surgery, you'll want to make sure the surgeon is experienced in performing the particular operation you've decided to undergo.
You may also want to talk to other patients who've had the operation. The aim of surgery is to relieve pain and restore normal function by eliminating the bony protuberance and realigning the joint including ligaments, tendons, and nerves.
There are more than surgical procedures for bunion correction, but few of them have been evaluated or compared in controlled trials. The surgeon will take x-rays and make measurements that help classify the bunion as mild, moderate, or severe. She or he will also take into consideration your age, activity level, and health and the strength of your bones and connective tissue.
The more severe the bunion, the more complicated and risky the surgery. For mild deformities, the surgeon will probably choose bunionectomy — shaving off the enlarged portion of the bone and realigning the muscles, tendons, and ligaments see "Bunion surgery by category".
For moderate deformities, it may be necessary to cut the bone close to the metatarsal head in order to shift it back into its proper position. To correct severe bunions, the surgeon makes a cut at the base of the metatarsal bone, rotates the bone, and fixes it in place with pins or screws.
Cutting and repositioning the bones is called an osteotomy. Bunionectomy and osteotomy may be performed under local, general, or spinal anesthesia on an outpatient basis in a hospital, surgical center, or doctor's office, usually by an orthopedic, podiatric, or other specialist foot surgeon. Some of these surgeries can be performed using minimally invasive techniques. None of them will reshape your foot to fit into the kind of narrow shoes that may have created the problem in the first place.
Shaves the bony excess on the outside of the metatarsal head. Realigns the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the joint.
Recovery takes 3—4 weeks and usually involves wearing a postoperative shoe. May not correct the deformity that caused the bunion. Make an appointment with your foot doctor in Holly Springs , Raleigh, Cary, or Garner today, to get specialized treatment with a personal approach. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
How do you know if you have a bunion? Why do I have a bunion? Heredity factors -some people inherit prone to developing bunions owing to their form and structure Inflammatory disorder , caused by factors conditions as rheumatoid arthritis A neuromuscular condition , such as polio.
What can I do to shrink a bunion? Wear wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole In most cases, bunion pain is relieved by wearing wider shoes with adequate toe room and using other simple treatments to reduce pressure on the big toe. Try bunion pads Bunion pads are soft pads you put in your shoes to stop them rubbing on a bunion —you can purchase these from a pharmacy.
Hold an ice pack Holding an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel on the bunion for up to 5 minutes at a time helps to reduce to pain and the inflammation. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen Anti-inflammatory and pain-relief drugs will help you contain both the pain and the inflammation. Try to lose weight If you have some extra pounds, try to lose them. And one more… 6. The classic symptom of a bunion is a bump that forms at the base of the big toe.
These can also form at the base of the little toe. Other symptoms of bunions may include :. Bunions begin as small lumps. They get worse over time, however, causing pain and making walking difficult.
Avoiding shoes that cramp the feet is one way to prevent the developing of some of these complications. A healthcare provider can also use physical examination and X-rays to diagnose the presence of bunions. An X-ray will indicate the severity of the bunion and help direct the next stage of treatment. Lifestyle adaptations to relieve bunions include :.
Surgery may be suitable for people who:. Following surgery, a full recovery can take up to 6 months. Regular visits to the doctor may be necessary. Surgery will aim to relieve pain, realign the metatarsophalangeal MTP joint, and correct any deformities that are causing the problem. This surgery involves shortening any weak joint tissues and lengthening the toe. Tendons and ligament repair often takes place alongside an osteotomy. This is a corrective procedure to realign the joint.
Doctors use pins, screws, or plates to fix the bone. The surgeon then inserts screws, wires, or plates to hold the joint together during healing. This procedure usually helps people with severe bunions, arthritis, or those who have had unsuccessful bunion surgery. The surgeon removes the bump on the toe joint. They will often perform this surgery in combination with an osteotomy.
This is a procedure to remove the damaged portion of the toe joint, providing more space between the toe bones. Surgeons reserve this procedure for:. Wearing well-fitting shoes with a wide toe box can help prevent the development of bunions.
Avoid shoes with pointy toes and high heels.
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