You look down at your feet, and you can hardly recognize them anymore. Gone are toes that line up nicely and point forward. Instead, your big toe is pushing toward your other toes, and a bony bump is growing at the base.
Called bunions, this structural foot issue is common. In fact, about 1 in 5 people have them.
When it comes to treating bunions, our team of podiatry specialists at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle has extensive experience in this area, providing both surgical and non-surgical solutions.
The reality is that treating bunions is challenging because they are progressive and go more than bone deep.
While the migration of your big toe and the bony bump garner all of the attention, bunions are really a misalignment issue in one of the joints in your toe.
Called the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), this is the connection point between your big toe’s metatarsal (the long bone in your foot) and phalanx (the first bone in your toe).
When the bones in your MTP joint move out of alignment, the metatarsal shifts toward the inside of your foot, and your phalanx drifts toward your second toe.
This makes your MTP joint larger, and the misalignment can lead to inflammation and subsequent bony growth, which is where the outward signs of a bunion occur.
Bunions form for many reasons, but 70% of those who develop bunions have a family history of them. Poor-fitting shoes that squeeze your toes can also lead to bunions.
We already mentioned that bunions are progressive. They grow slowly as a result of the unresolved misalignment in your MTP joint.
Also important is the fact that whatever shifting has occurred in the MTP joint to this point, as well as bone growth, can only be remedied through surgery.
If you don't like the idea of surgery, treating bunions can include managing your symptoms and taking steps to halt or slow the progression. The earlier you intervene, the better.
So, at the first signs of a bunion, avoid any shoes that crowd your toes. We can also recommend some foot exercises and stretches that help with the alignment of your feet.
If your bunions have become inflamed and painful, we can administer corticosteroid injections that will help with the discomfort. We also suggest wearing protective pads on your feet to reduce friction on the bony bump.
Lastly, many of our patients have found that they can live with their bunions by using toe spacers, which are small silicone or gel devices that you place between your big and second toes.
So, if you’re determined to find non-surgical solutions for your bunions, we can create a customized plan. To get started, please contact us at one of our 16 locations in Tennessee to schedule an appointment.
