Bunions are one of the most common foot problems we see today. It can be identified by an excess bony growth at the joint on the side of the big toe. It is usually the result of a misalignment of the big toe causing it to rotate and angle towards the smaller toes. Another type of bunion (not as common) is found in the same position but on the smaller toe. If you're suffering from this kind of painful condition, then you're probably wondering what causes bunions and how are they treated.
Bunion Causes:
While no one knows exactly why some people develop bunions while others do not, there are a few common factors that may be responsible for this condition. Researchers have noted that there appears to be some type of genetic trait that causes one to walk in an abnormal way. This can lead to abnormal foot function, which may be the source of the problem.
Bunions often occur in women who commonly wear high heels or shoes that are too tight, which may also be an underlying cause. Even though your footwear may not be a direct cause of a bunion, the constant friction against an already inflamed area can lead to increased pain and swelling.
Other possible causes of developing a bunion could be directly related to injuries to the foot, neuromuscular diseases like polio or Carcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or a discrepancy between limbs.
Symptoms of Bunions:
In most cases, bunions may not cause consistent symptoms. Knowing what causes bunions and how are they treated can help you to identify even small symptoms. There might be a painful flare-up when too much pressure is put on it. It could be intermittent or in more severe cases can develop into chronic pain as a result of the swelling of the soft tissues in the area.
Treatment Options:
Nonsurgical treatments are often preferred over invasive surgery. These may include wearing wider shoes with supportive soles to take the pressure off the inflamed area. Avoiding wearing high-heels can take a lot of weight off the bunion and bring good relief.
If the practical approach doesn't work, your doctor may suggest taking anti-inflammatory medications to bring down the inflammation or using a local cold-pack on the affected area. In more extreme cases, where the pain may be chronic your doctor may want to give you a shot of cortisone at the base of the big toe. This can bring much of the inflammation down to quickly bring you relief.
Finally, if all those treatment options prove to be ineffective, surgical realigning of the big toe and removal of excess bone growth could be used. However, it is important to understand that surgical treatments are not always effective. It is advisable to talk to your doctor to make sure that you understand what the risks are as well as what a surgical failure could mean. It should be noted that a surgical failure could cause the big toe to drift back to where it was before the surgery so it is probably the smarter choice to start with the basic and less invasive treatments first for better results.
To better understand what causes bunions and how are they treated, don't hesitate to consult with your doctor.