What should I do about my Bunions?

Hallux valgus, commonly known as bunions, is primarily caused by genetics but can be made worse by certain types of shoes, especially pointy heels.

Trauma can also be a contributing factor to bunions, its common in soccer, baseball and softball athletes.

A bunion is characterized by a noticeable bump on the inside part of the foot. This bump isn't due to extra bone growth but rather an abnormal angle between the first and second metatarsal bones, as well as between the first metatarsal and the great toe. This misalignment causes part of the joint surface of the first metatarsal to be more prominent, forming the visible bump.

In our office, diagnosing a bunion is straightforward with a radiograph or X-ray. (Also, we can see them on clinical exam and visual inspection!) There are various treatment options available, both surgical and non-surgical to help reduce either pain or the appearance of a bunion. While non-surgical treatments won't reverse the bunion, they can alleviate pain from the angle of the big toe. Solutions include wearing wider shoes with a roomy toe box, using spacers or braces, or using pads to cover the bunion bump.

Surgical treatments, which are very successful nowadays, involve a small incision and realigning the bones to correct the abnormal angles. Most folks who have surgery are back to doing what they love in a matter of months! (But don’t let me catch you in high heels afterwards!)