Understanding Bunions: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
- posted: Mar. 20, 2024
When you have bunions in Norfolk and Suffolk, VA, they can be very painful, or they may be inconvenient and you might not like their appearance. It is different for each person who has them. Dr. Jesse Anderson is a second-generation podiatrist offering services at AAL Podiatry Associates to residents of the Tidewater area of Virginia.
What are Bunions?
A bunion is a bump created from bones at the base of the big toe on the inside edge of the foot. It is the result of the big toe shifting position and moving toward the smaller toes. They do not develop overnight, but can take years. The bones, tendons, and ligaments are all involved. More women than men suffer from bunions and three-quarters of sufferers have a family history of them.
Causes
Heredity plays a role in the development of bunions, as the structure of the foot is partially inherited and some shapes of the foot are more prone to bunions. If you have flat feet, this can make the formation of bunions more likely. So can inflammatory diseases with a hereditary factor such as rheumatoid arthritis. Trauma to the foot can also be a causative factor, as can the type of shoes that you wear.
Women are more prone to bunions in part because they are more likely to wear high-heeled shoes with a narrow toe box. This puts excessive pressure on the joint in the big toe.
Symptoms
The most obvious symptom is the bony lump on the inside of the foot at the base of the big toe. It may be red and inflamed and very painful. It can also cause the develop a callus between the big toe and the second toe. We also see a lot of Norfolk and Suffolk, VA, patients suffering from stiffness, which makes walking uncomfortable.
Treatment
Bunions that are not causing pain may not require treatment, although they can still affect the patient’s gait and footwear. Conservative treatments include changing the type and the fit of the shoes you are wearing and adding padding inside your shoe to protect the bunion. Your podiatrist may recommend orthotics to get your foot into the correct position and nighttime splints to relieve pain. Medication to treat the pain is another option.
If conservative options are not providing pain relief, your podiatrist may recommend surgery to permanently correct the bunion. Your doctor will discuss the different options with you and help you to choose the one that is right for you.
Dr. Anderson of AAL Podiatry Associates offers full podiatric services as well as treatment for bunions in Norfolk and Suffolk, VA. To make an appointment in Norfolk, call 757-625-2962 or, in Suffolk, call 757-539-2098.
- posted: Mar. 20, 2024
When you have bunions in Norfolk and Suffolk, VA, they can be very painful, or they may be inconvenient and you might not like their appearance. It is different for each person who has them. Dr. Jesse Anderson is a second-generation podiatrist offering services at AAL Podiatry Associates to residents of the Tidewater area of Virginia.
What are Bunions?
A bunion is a bump created from bones at the base of the big toe on the inside edge of the foot. It is the result of the big toe shifting position and moving toward the smaller toes. They do not develop overnight, but can take years. The bones, tendons, and ligaments are all involved. More women than men suffer from bunions and three-quarters of sufferers have a family history of them.
Causes
Heredity plays a role in the development of bunions, as the structure of the foot is partially inherited and some shapes of the foot are more prone to bunions. If you have flat feet, this can make the formation of bunions more likely. So can inflammatory diseases with a hereditary factor such as rheumatoid arthritis. Trauma to the foot can also be a causative factor, as can the type of shoes that you wear.
Women are more prone to bunions in part because they are more likely to wear high-heeled shoes with a narrow toe box. This puts excessive pressure on the joint in the big toe.
Symptoms
The most obvious symptom is the bony lump on the inside of the foot at the base of the big toe. It may be red and inflamed and very painful. It can also cause the develop a callus between the big toe and the second toe. We also see a lot of Norfolk and Suffolk, VA, patients suffering from stiffness, which makes walking uncomfortable.
Treatment
Bunions that are not causing pain may not require treatment, although they can still affect the patient’s gait and footwear. Conservative treatments include changing the type and the fit of the shoes you are wearing and adding padding inside your shoe to protect the bunion. Your podiatrist may recommend orthotics to get your foot into the correct position and nighttime splints to relieve pain. Medication to treat the pain is another option.
If conservative options are not providing pain relief, your podiatrist may recommend surgery to permanently correct the bunion. Your doctor will discuss the different options with you and help you to choose the one that is right for you.
Dr. Anderson of AAL Podiatry Associates offers full podiatric services as well as treatment for bunions in Norfolk and Suffolk, VA. To make an appointment in Norfolk, call 757-625-2962 or, in Suffolk, call 757-539-2098.
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