Bunions
Bunions are a common foot condition that appears as a bony bump on the joint at the base of your big toe. It occurs when some of the bones in the front part of your foot move out of place, causing the tip of your big toe to get pulled toward the smaller toes and forcing the joint at the base of your big toe to stick out. Bunions don’t appear overnight; they usually develop slowly as the joint becomes misaligned and can become painful, especially when wearing shoes.
What Causes Bunions to Develop?
- Genetics: Bunions often run in families. If your parents or grandparents had bunions, you're more likely to get them too. Particular inherited foot shapes can make you more prone to developing them.
- Footwear choices: Wearing tight, narrow shoes can contribute significantly to bunion formation. High heels, in particular, push your toes into the front of your shoe, which can exacerbate the problem over time.
- Foot stress: Repetitive stress on your feet from activities like running or certain sports.
- Arthritis: Certain types, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can affect how your joints function and lead to bunion development.
- Foot injuries: A previous trauma, such as stubbing your toe badly, dropping something on your foot, or an untreated sprain, can destabilise the big toe joint and encourage development.
- Ligament laxity: Naturally flexible or “loose” joints may shift out of position more easily over time, especially with repeated stress.
- Occupational or lifestyle factors: Spending long hours walking or standing, particularly on hard surfaces, may put extra pressure on the big toe joint.
How Does Feet Option Podiatry Treat Bunions?
Every bunion is different. After assessing your foot mechanics, footwear habits, overall mobility, and pain levels, our podiatrists will create a tailored treatment plan to reduce pain, slow bunion progression, and improve your comfort. We may arrange imaging, such as X-rays, to assess the severity of the bunion and rule out other issues. Some of the ways we typically treat bunions include:
- Footwear guidance: Helping you choose shoes with the correct width, depth, and structure to reduce pressure on the bunion and support healthy foot alignment.
- Padding and protective devices: Using silicone pads or toe spacers to reduce rubbing, improve comfort, and help keep the toes aligned.
- Strengthening and mobility exercises: Creating a simple exercise routine to improve joint stability, enhance foot strength, and support better long-term alignment.
- Anti-inflammatory measures: Suggesting over-the-counter medication or topical treatments to help manage pain and reduce swelling around the affected joint.
- Lifestyle adjustments: Modifying daily habits or reducing activities that aggravate bunion pain, particularly during flare-ups.
- Corticosteroid injections: These injections can provide temporary relief by reducing inflammation around the joint.
- Surgical referral (for severe cases): If conservative treatment fails and the bunion significantly limits mobility or quality of life, surgery to correct joint alignment may be recommended. Your podiatrist will discuss options and arrange a referral if appropriate.
Suspecting You Have Bunions?
If you’ve noticed a bump near your big toe or discomfort when walking or wearing shoes, don’t ignore it, as bunions tend to worsen over time. Thankfully, early intervention and treatment help slow their progression. Choose supportive, wide-fitting shoes and apply ice if the area becomes swollen. For proper assessment and personalised care, book an appointment with our team at Feet Option Podiatry.
