A bunion is a bony protrusion located at the base of your big toe. It forms over time if your big toe is pushed under or over your other toes inside your shoes. The pressure makes your toe joint stick out and grow larger, eventually leading to a permanent change.
Wearing narrow, pointed shoes or high heels is a leading cause of bunions. They’re most common in women over age 65, but anyone can get bunions, regardless of gender or age. Family history, genetics, and arthritis also play a role.
At The Foot & Ankle Specialists, Lisa Burson, DPM, Joe Aoun, DPM, and our podiatric team are experts in bunion treatment. If bunion pain is interfering with your life, we’re here to help you find the right treatment to get you back on your feet.
Our team specializes in diagnosing and treating bunions in patients of all ages. Bunions are generally easy to diagnose with a visual exam, but we also offer comprehensive exams to assess the extent of your condition.
Dr. Lisa Burson and Dr. Joe Aoun will take digital X-rays or perform other diagnostic imaging tests to evaluate the bone structure of your foot and determine how the bunion has affected your foot’s framework.
You could have a bunion or a bunionette if you notice:
Bunions generally start small and get larger over time. Starting treatment early on often makes treatment more effective and keeps your symptoms from getting worse.
Bunions don’t go away on their own, so it’s important to seek professional care if you think you might have them. If you’re diagnosed with mild-to-moderate bunions, our team generally recommends nonsurgical treatment to relieve pain and prevent complications.
Common nonsurgical treatments for bunions include:
Wide shoes or custom orthotics can take stress off your toe joint and help minimize inflammation and pain, while icing and resting can mitigate acute pain. Medication, like oral anti-inflammatories or corticosteroid injections, may be a good option for more severe bunion pain.
In many cases, nonsurgical bunion treatment is effective. However, if you find that you’ve exhausted your conservative treatment options and you still have pain, you might need bunion surgery. Our team may also recommend bunion surgery in cases of extreme foot deformity.
Bunion surgery is a permanent solution for severe bunions that significantly impact your mobility. Dr. Lisa Burson and Dr. Joe Aoun strive to bring the latest in foot surgical technology to our patients, so you can be confident in your care.
Our team tailors bunion surgery to meet your needs, effectively removing the bony growth and correcting the bone structure within your foot to keep a bunion from forming in the future. Recovery from bunion surgery can take anywhere from several weeks to a few months, and once your foot has healed, you can enjoy a life free from bunion pain.
Get personalized bunion care at The Foot & Ankle Specialists. Call the office nearest you, send our team a message, or request your initial consultation online today.
