What is a Bunion?
A bunion is a bony deformity found at the base of the big
toe. More commonly found in women, this condition is also called hallux valgus.
A number of female celebrities also have bunions on their feet like Posh Spice Victoria Beckham, Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger actress
Michelle Yeoh, Emmy Award Nominee Christina Hendricks, TV personality, socialite,
and heiress Paris Hilton, Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, George Clooney’s wife
Amal, supermodel Naomi Campbell, and even America's favorite queen of talk,
Oprah Winfrey.
The bump is caused by a shift or deviation of the bone in
your large toe. It can cause pain, inflammation, and/or redness. When the
outside of the foot at the base of the little toe is affected, this is referred
to as tailor’s bunion or a bunionette.
The other signs and symptoms of bunions include
- a bony bump on the outside edge of the foot
- pain over the big toe joint that’s made worse by pressure from high heels or tight shoes
- swelling over the big toe joint
- sore skin over the top of the bunion
- hard, callused and red skin
- noticeable change in the shape of the foot
- finding shoes that fit because of the altered shape of the foot
Bunions may start small but over time, it may become bigger.
If one continues to wear tight narrow shoes, it can be more painful and
difficult to walk.
The exact cause of bunions in not known but genetics seems
to play a big role. Other possible causes are existing foot conditions like
flat feet, high arches, overpronation and various foot problems like arthritis,
sprains, and fractures. Wearing shoes that do not fit well or very high-heeled
tight shoes may not actually cause bunions but may make the deformity progressively
worse.
Conservative Treatment for Bunions
There are a number of nonsurgical ways to manage bunions. The
first step is to wear the right type of shoes. These should be wide enough especially
in the toe box to accommodate the bunion. Shoes with flexible soles to support
the foot are also helpful. Shoes with a back should be able to keep the heels
snugly in place. Keep away from high-heeled shoes. Anything higher than an inch
can put undue stress on the bunion.
In cases where the bunion is irritated and painful, either ice
packs or warm soaks can soothe the soreness. Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory
medications or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin may help with the pain. For
more severe cases, cortisone injections can temporarily relieve pain by
reducing inflammation but they can have side effects especially in high doses
and multiple shots.
A simpler method to involves the use of a thermoplastic
splint. This is supposed to relieve bunion pain, straighten the big toe, and
reduce the size of the bump. With proper compliance, patients can resume their with
lesser to no pain. Splints may also provide bunion pain relief for those with
severe stages of bunion.
Passive and active exercises may also relieve bunion
symptoms and increase flexibility. These include toe stretches, toe flexing and
contracting, ball roll, resistance exercises, towel curls, picking up marbles
with the toes, and even walking along the beach or sand which serves as a
gentle foot massage.
Keeping a normal weight also helps with bunion problems.
Gel-filled pads or moleskin are readily available at
drugstores. Similarly, these provide support and relieve bunion pain.
However, it is important to note that these conservative
measures will not get rid of the bunion because the bunion is a biomechanical
deformity. These can only help in relieving the symptoms or may delay its
progression. The only way to treat bunions is through bunion surgery.
When is surgery needed for bunion?
When all conservative and nonsurgical bunion treatments fail
and the pain interferes with the daily activities, then it may be time to visit
your podiatrist. Discuss your options and the different surgical methods for
bunion treatment.
The traditional bunion surgery involves a long incision and
has a reputation of being painful with a lengthy recovery period. The cut is
done to expose the bulging bone. Then a part of the metatarsal head is removed,
then the bone is cut around the neck of the metatarsal bone. The free head is
repositioned to a more normal position. Once the bones are well-positioned they
are pinned to place and excess bone is removed. In traditional bunion surgery
expect swelling and pain after surgery and it takes 6 to 8 weeks of recovery
time.
The newer methods for removing bunions such as the minimally
invasive bunion surgery involve very small incision.
The modified Lam /scarless bunion surgery is an innovative method that is virtually painless and
scarless bunion treatment.
Dr. Kevin Lam, a Double Certified foot and ankle
surgeon in Naples, Florida has developed the Lam modification bunion surgery
which utilizes a very small incision, minimal discomfort, and virtually
painless scarless bunion surgery.
The new fixation technique allows a patient
to be up and about the same day!
It is very important that this ground-breaking
technique is performed by a specialist foot and ankle surgeon who has extensive
experience in all bunion surgery techniques.
For more infomation, call or visit
any of the Family Foot and Leg Center, P.A. offices conveniently
located in Naples (Goodlette Medical Park), North Naples (Royal Palm Medical
Building, Medical Blvd), and East Naples (Gridley Building, Tamiami Trail East)
or contact (239) 430-3668 (FOOT)
