Bunions

What are bunions?

Bunions develop when your big toe pushes in toward your second toe. As the top of the big toe goes further inward, the bone at the base of the toe moves out, creating a large lump. When bunions form on your little toe, they're known as bunionettes. These are less common than big toe bunions but can cause similar symptoms.

Inherited structural foot problems increase your risk of developing bunions. If you then wear shoes with pointed toes or high heels, the pressure on the toes can trigger the development of bunions. These kinds of footwear also make bunions more painful.

What symptoms do bunions cause?

Bunions usually come on quite slowly. At first, you might notice that the base of your toe is getting more protuberant, but you may not feel much discomfort.

As the bunion gets bigger, it starts to press into the sides of your shoes, which can make the lump sore and red. The skin over your bunion might look tight and shiny, and the lump feels tender to touch.

The larger the bunion gets, the more painful it's likely to be. The pain can make it difficult to wear shoes, and you might struggle to walk very far with a severe bunion.

What treatment do bunions require?

After assessing your feet, Dr. Berlin can advise on the best course of action. Initial treatments for bunions, especially when they're mild, include wearing footwear with a wide toe box and using orthotics (specially designed shoe inserts) to support your foot.

Resting your foot and applying ice can help reduce inflammation, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen should lessen the pain.

While these methods can help ease the uncomfortable symptoms of bunions, there's no way to cure the problem without surgical intervention. If you're not finding sufficient symptom relief, Dr. Berlin can go over your surgical options with you.

What does bunion surgery involve?

Traditional approaches to bunion surgery aim to straighten your toe and stabilize the joint. That typically involves removing swollen tissue from around the bunion, realigning the bones in your toe, and fusing them to stop them from moving out of position again.

These procedures require you to wear a cast or use crutches to keep the weight off your foot while the toe heals. Dr. Berlin offers a less invasive alternative that enables you to bear weight almost immediately wearing a surgical shoe.

To perform the Swiss compression technique for bunions, Dr. Berlin makes precise cuts into the bone and uses tiny screws to fix the bones and stabilize the toe realignment. The approach resolves your bunion pain and prevents new bunions from forming without requiring a lot of downtime. You could also benefit from electrical stimulation for swelling and post-operative healing after your procedure.

To find the bunion treatment that's right for you, call Eastside Foot & Ankle Clinic, P.C., today or book an appointment online.