There’s Nothing Fun about Bunions

Are you one of the millions of American’s who suffer from bunions? Unfortunately, bunions affect the weight bearing part of the foot and can be very painful. They are an unnatural bony protrusion that forms at the base of the big toe. You are more apt to get bunions if someone else in your family has them. Women are more likely than men to get bunions, especially if they wear high heeled and narrow fitting shoes. As a bunion develops, the big toe begins to point toward the other toes and the foot begins to change shape.

Symptoms include:

• Red calloused skin at the site of the big toe where it meets the foot
• A bony protrusion
• Pain aggravated by ill-fitting shoes
• Big toe that points toward other toes

Bunions can usually be diagnosed visually, but x-rays can give a good visual diagram of the bone alignment and might also help determine an underlying cause.

Treatment of bunions will vary depending on your individual case. You should see Dr. Vargas for a complete evaluation if you have symptoms of bunions. An early intervention could prevent them from worsening and making treatment more complex.

The following treatments may be successful, but they are directed toward the symptoms, not the actual deformity. Only when the pain is severe or a correction in the deformity is required, is surgery performed.

• Change shoes to a looser wider toe box
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Limiting walking
• Application of cold packs
• Stretching exercises
• Orthotic devices

Dr. Vargas would assess your individual needs and lifestyle and develop a treatment right for you. A bunionectomy (surgical removal of bunion) is usually successful and corrects the deformity and relieves your pain, but bunions can return in some cases. You should listen carefully to Dr. Vargas’ instructions and wear proper footwear and limit your walking.