Bunions are a frequent foot problem, particularly in Arizona’s arid environment, which causes skin to shrink and tighten around the toes. Bunions occur when something exerts additional pressure on your big toe, pushing it out of its normal alignment and toward your other toes. If you see a bulge at the base of your big toe, immediately get medical attention from a Podiatry in Tucson, AZ. Bunions are often treated by correctly fitting shoes and addressing symptoms like pain and stiffness.
What do bunions feel like?
A bunion forms slowly over time when pressure on the big toe joint causes its normal structure to change, pushing it out of alignment. This causes the big toe to tilt toward the second toe, resulting in a bony hump on the exterior of the big toe, which causes pain.
This foot ailment is known clinically as hallux valgus, but most people refer to it simply as bunions. These are distinct from a tailor’s bunion, which appears on the pinky toe and is also known as a bunionette.
Types of bunions.
Bunions are most frequent on your big toe due to additional pressure, but they can also occur on other toes and for other causes. Other forms of bunions are:
- Adolescent or juvenile hallux valgus.
These are the sorts of bunions that affect individuals under the age of 18.
- Congenital hallux valgus or congenital bunions.
Some newborns are born with bunions.
- Bunionettes or Tailor’s Bunion.
Tailor’s bunions develop at the base of your little (pinky) toes. They are frequently caused by wearing improperly fitting shoes or engaging in an activity that forces your little toe inward toward your other toes.
Bunions are quite prevalent. According to experts, around one-third of all Americans have bunions.
What are the symptoms of bunions?
The most visible sign of a bunion is the growth that grows at the base of your big toe. You can generally see and feel the bony lump. A bunion might induce various symptoms, such as:
- Redness or discoloration.
- Swelling.
- Stiffness or pain in your big toe.
- Corns and calluses (thickened skin).
- Difficulty wearing specific types of shoes or discomfort that worsens when wearing shoes.
- Inability to flex or bend your big toe (bending may cause discomfort or a burning sensation).
- Numbness in or near the big toe.
- Hammertoes (painful, stiff toe tendons and joints).
Treatment options for bunions.
Treatment choices differ according to the severity of your bunion and the level of discomfort it produces. There are some non-invasive options, as well as surgery, available to treat bunions. You may be able to walk on your foot immediately following a bunion treatment. However, complete healing might take weeks or months. Consult your doctor today to determine what option is best for you.
