Bunions
Corns and Callus'
Foot Odour
Heel Pains
Hammer Toe


FOOT PROBLEMS – BUNIONS:


The word bunion is from the Latin "bunion," meaning enlargement. A bunion is generally considered as an enlargement of the joint (a lump of bone) at the base and side of the big toe. Bunions form when the toe moves out of place. As the big toe bends towards the others this lump becomes larger and the bunion can become painful - arthritis and stiffness can eventually develop.

Bunions are really only a symptom of faulty foot mechanics and are usually caused by a combination of the way we walk, the foot we inherit and inappropriate footwear use. 

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF BUNIONS?


Wearing footwear that is too tight or causing the toes to be squeezed together are the most commonly blamed factor for the cause of bunions. Bunions starts as the big toe begins to deviate, developing a firm bump on the inside edge of the foot, at the base of the big toe. Initially, at this stage the bunion may not be painful. Later as the toes deviate more the bunion can become painful - there may be redness, some swelling, or pain at or near the joint.

Bunions are not inherited, but do tend to run in families. What is inherited is the poor or faulty foot type, that mechanically can lead to the instability around the joint that will eventually lead to bunions - how soon, how quickly and how bad they are or become is assumed to be very dependant on the footwear.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR BUNIONS?


There are many treatment options for bunions and they will vary with the type and severity of each bunion. Bunions are almost always progressive and tend to get larger and more painful with time - how fast this happens may be a function of your footwear.

The initial goal of treatment options is to relieve pressure on the bunion and any symptoms that may be present and to halt or slow the progression of the joint deformity. There is no effective way to "get rid of" a bunion without surgery.

Self treatment or management of bunions includes:

  • Wear shoes that are wide and deep to accomodate the bunions. Fitting of footwear is very important. Avoid the use of high heel shoes.
  • Padding with a number of different materials (e.g. felt) to reduce pressure on the painful prominence of the bunion.
  • It may be possible to have your shoes stretched over the area of the bunion to also relieve pressure.
  • Foot orthotics may be useful in helping with the instability about the joint. They may play a role in slowing progression and in the prevention of bunions developing again after surgical correction.