Eating well and exercising are both important for your health. While you may focus on your weight, emotional wellness, and cardiovascular health, maintaining healthy feet is also important. Your feet are imperative for standing and walking, so they experience a great deal of stress and abuse over time. Bunions are a common issue that affects mostly women, but they can also affect men and even young adults or teens. Even though they are common, most people are not familiar with bunions. This guide will help you understand the causes and treatment options for this foot deformity.
The 411
Basically, a bunion is a bump that forms on the side of big toe. One common misconception people have is that this bump is actually just hard skin that has built up over time, but that is not actually true.
The bunion forms due to a progressive leaning of the big toe, which causes the bone to protrude out, creating the bump on the side.
The Causes
Bunions occur for a variety of reasons. In most cases, they are inherited from family members who also have them.
You may believe wearing certain types of shoes can cause you to develop a bunion. Shoes that are too tight or too narrow, such as pointy dress shoes or high heels, do not actually cause bunions. However, wearing these shoes while you have a bunion can cause a great deal of pain while making the deformity more noticeable.
The Signs
Obviously, a bunion will be noticeable, but this deformity can cause other complications.
Most people who have a bunion on one or both feet will experience pain and soreness int heir feet and toes, especially after walking or when wearing shoes. Inflammation of the skin is also common. Bunions can also cause the foot to swell.
In some instances, excess stress on the bunion can lead to numbness and tingling in the foot.
The Treatment
It is important to note that treatment is not always necessary. Managing discomfort and preventing the bunion from progressing is helpful, though.
To manage this pain and prevent any further deformity, work with a podiatrist to discuss shoe options. Have your feet professionally measured to ensure you are wearing the right size and width of the shoe. Avoid wearing dress shoes whenever possible. This will help your foot and toes relax. Ice packs can also be used to reduce swelling and inflammation.
If the pain and discomfort are affecting your quality of life, surgery may be the best treatment option. Your surgeon can remove the protruding portion of bone and correct any damaged tissue that has developed as a result of the bunion.
Bunions are not life-threatening issues, but they can affect your life. This guide will help you understand the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for these common foot deformities. To learn more, contact a doctor like Richard Moy DPY INC
