Overview

bunion treatment

Don’t let bunions cause pain or become a cosmetic concern when the skilled specialists of Gardner Orthopedics are here to help. In Fort Myers, Florida, the board-certified surgeons have extensive experience treating bunions and provide quality treatments, including medications, night splints, bunion bandages, and corrective surgery. Bunions don’t have to dictate your walking style or ability, visit Gardner Orthopedics for treatment and call or click to schedule online.

Bunions Q & A

A bunion usually forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. A bunion is a bony protrusion that often shows up when your big toe presses against your next toe and persistently irritates the joint until it enlarges and sticks out. If your bunions cause pain, you might even be altering the way you walk to compensate.

You may notice the skin around your bunion is red and sore, and your foot might look misshapen. Calluses can also develop around the bunion.

A bunionette (tailor’s bunion) develops when your smallest toe (fifth metatarsal bone) expands outwards and forms a visible bony growth.

Adolescents often develop bunions on the bottom of the big toe, and the bunions get worse as they grow. Bunions are more prevalent in women than in men.

The exact cause of bunions isn’t always apparent. These bony growths have been linked to genetic defects, foot injuries, and medical and inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis. High-heeled shoes and shoes that don’t fit properly can also cause or worsen bunions.

Bunions can show up when your body weight falls unevenly on specific joints and tendons in your feet. Prolonged bursitis is inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs between the bones and tendons. This inflammation can also lead to bunions over time.

Bunions are permanent and may require surgical correction. Early treatment is focused on limiting or stopping the progression of the bunion, decreasing pain and pressure, lowering inflammation, and improving the functionality of your foot.

Your provider usually performs a physical exam and sends you for on-site X-rays to evaluate the bunions and any possible deformities of the bones in your foot. Once a diagnosis is made, your provider might suggest various treatments for your bunion, including:

  • Separators
  • Custom orthotics
  • Surgical intervention
  • Orthotics and orthopedic shoes
  • Injections or oral medications to control pain, inflammation, and swelling

Supportive products and assistive devices like bunion shields, bandages, and night splints can also be helpful for bunions.

To prevent bunions from forming, avoid shoes that are too tight-fitting, narrow, or sharply-pointed and make sure you opt for more comfortable shoes with softer soles and wider insteps.

If your bunion is causing you pain in your big toe or foot, hinders your walking in any way, becomes a cosmetic issue, or makes it difficult to find properly fitting shoes, visit Gardner Orthopedics for the highest standard of orthopedic care.

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