What Are Bunions and How Can You Treat Them? | Bunions are one of the most common foot problems that adults deal with.
Do you deal with bunions?
Imagine if your painful feet no longer hurt, and you could go about your daily life without worrying about what types of shoes to wear or how long until you can sit and get pressure off your feet.
What are bunions on the feet exactly? Read on to learn how to identify when you have one and what you can do to treat it.
What’s a Bunion?
What are bunions on the feet? A bunion is a structural deformity in your foot. They cause a painful bump to form near the big toe.
They form when your big toe slightly rotates sideways and leans toward the second toe.
Why Do Bunions Form?
Bunions are genetically inherited, but they can progress quicker or worsen over time, depending on certain circumstances.
If you wear shoes that are too narrow, excessively tight, or contain a pointed toe, they will force the big toe inward and place more pressure on the affected area.
How Will I Know I Have One?
What are the bunion signs to look for? If you have the classic outward bump on the inside of your foot underneath your big toe, it’s a pretty good indicator that you have a bunion.
In addition, you may also notice pain when partaking in certain activities, such as:
- Frequent standing
- Walking
- Running
- Dancing
Aside from pain during these activities, you might also experience redness and inflammation in that area, callus or corns on the bump, and potential restricted motion in your big toe.
If you notice any of these feet issues, it’s a good idea to get your foot checked out by a professional so that they can assess the situation and explain treatment options to you.
Feet Treatment Options
Before opting for surgery as a permanent fix, you might like to look into non-surgical options that can help lessen the pain.
Either way, it’s essential to contact a doctor and get professional advice based on your specific situation. Consider contacting the top podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Specialty Group.
Some non-surgical options that could potentially help are:
- Custom orthotics
- Shoe padding
- Icing your foot
- Changing your footwear
- Topical medication
Surgery is necessary to correct a bunion, but these alternatives might be applicable if you’re experiencing only mild symptoms. A podiatrist will let you know if surgery is needed or if there are other steps that you can take first.
What Are Bunions on the Feet?—Alleviate These Painful Bumps Today
This article explained the answer to “What are bunions on the feet?” and helped you understand how to gauge if you have one and the possible treatment options.
Above all, the most important thing to take away from this is that if you’re experiencing foot pain, it’s a good idea to reach out to a podiatrist to understand the situation better and begin working toward a solution immediately.
If you found this article helpful, please look at our other wellness pieces that can teach you more helpful information.
