What are bunions?
A bunion is a painful lump on your foot. It affects the joint at the base of your big toe, causing the bones in and behind the joint to push out to the side. The bones make a hard, pointy protrusion on the inside of your foot that gets increasingly painful as it grows.
You’re more likely to get a bunion if your big toes point more towards your other toes rather than straight ahead. A family history of bunions, having arthritis, and having legs that are different lengths all mean you have more risk of developing a bunion.
Poor foot structure can also make you prone to bunions. One of the most common causes of bunions is wearing shoes that push your feet into an unnatural position. High heels make this problem worse by exerting so much pressure on that part of your foot.
What symptoms do bunions cause?
When the bunion first forms, you might notice the beginnings of a lump, but it may not start hurting until it gets bigger. Gradually, the bunion becomes inflamed, and your skin gets tight, red, and shiny.
Your bunion might be painful to touch at this point, and pressure on the lump from your shoes can make the pain much worse. Bunions can make it difficult to walk comfortably and can begin to cause constant pain without proper medical attention.
When you visit Bay Area Foot and Ankle Center, Dr. Battula provides a comprehensive biomechanical evaluation of your feet to find the source of the problem and help with creating an appropriate treatment plan.
How are bunions treated?
The first stage in bunion treatment is to relieve pressure and reduce inflammation. There are several ways in which Dr. Battula can achieve this for you, including:
- Padding
- Splinting
- Taping
- Custom orthotics
- Using ice packs
- Pain-relieving medications
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Cortisone injections
For many patients, these conservative approaches provide relief from pain and enable you to walk more comfortably. If your bunions aren’t improving with these treatments, or are very severe, Dr. Battula carries out a surgical evaluation to see whether you would benefit from having an operation on your feet.
Dr. Battula can perform bunion surgery under local anesthetic in many cases. She might be able to realign the bones that are creating the bunion by cutting the joint ligaments.
If this isn’t going to work because your bunion is too severe, Dr. Battula can perform an osteotomy. This involves taking away excess bone and using screws or wires to keep the remaining bones in line.
If you have bunions, the sooner you see Dr. Battula and have them treated, the less of a problem they’ll cause. Call Bay Area Foot and Ankle Center today or book an appointment online.
