A bunion is a painful bony bump, a deformity of the metatarsophalangeal joint at the base of the big toe. When your feet get repeatedly squeezed into narrow, pointed-toe footwear, a bunion is most likely to develop. It happens slowly over time, and eventually gets more prominent and sticks out. Over time, the typical structure of the bone changes, resulting in the bunion bump. The enlarged joint is often inflamed. If left untreated, a bunion can get worse over time. Bunions are more common in women.
Causes
Symptoms
Symptoms of bunions include
Redness
Diagnosis
The doctor will physically examine the foot, and based on the symptoms will diagnose the condition. May ask for X-ray to check the alignment of your toes and look for the extent of damage to the MTP joint.
Treatment
When non-surgical procedures for an extended period doesn’t ease the pain or if the bunions develop into other painful foot problems such as Bursitis, Metatarsalgia, Hammertoe, your doctor will recommend surgery. A surgeon puts bones, ligaments, tendons and nerves back into the correct order, and removes the bump. Recovery post-surgery may take six months or more.
Prevention
Choose a proper-fitting shoeaccording to your foot shape and the activity you are involved, especially the one with a lot of toe room.