A bunion is a bump that forms on the joint of the big toe. While bunions are common, they can be painful and cause severe discomfort. If you have a bunion, you can find help at Northside Foot & Ankle PC. Timothy Kruse, DPM, offers nonsurgical and surgical treatments to help get rid of your bunion. Call the office in River North, Chicago, or Evanston, Illinois, today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
A bunion is a bony growth that develops on the inside of the foot at the base of the big toe. Also called a hallux vagas, a bunion develops slowly as pressure on the big toe pushes it inward toward the second toe.
As the bunion grows larger, it becomes more painful, making it more difficult to wear shoes. Because they tend to wear tight, narrow shoes, bunions are more common in women than men.
However, shoes aren’t the only cause of bunions. In some patients, a bunion can form due to a structural defect of the foot, a medical condition like arthritis, or a job or lifestyle that places stress on your foot.
While surgery is the only treatment to eliminate a bunion, many nonsurgical treatments offer pain and symptom relief while preventing the bunion from growing any larger.
Many people with bunions experience immediate relief when they switch to shoes with a larger toe box. Shoes that fit properly or shoes that don’t put pressure on the big toe can often relieve much of the discomfort a bunion causes.
Protective “bunion shields” are available that help cushion the area over the bunion. While many bunion shields offer ideal levels of padding, if the padding is too thick, it can increase the bunion's size.
Placing custom orthotics or over-the-counter insoles into a person’s existing shoes can ease the discomfort that bunions cause by giving them extra cushion and support.
The best way to prevent bunions from forming is to wear properly fitting shoes. Your podiatrist can take a 3D image of your foot and advise you on the kind of shoe that’s right for you.
That doesn’t mean a woman will have to give up high heels entirely, but she might need to choose a shoe with a wider toe or a custom orthotic inside. Also, wearing the proper shoe for the activity you’re engaged in can reduce the likelihood of forming bunions.
Call the Northside Foot & Ankle PC office nearest you today if you have a bunion. You can also reach out online.