Bunions

The big toe joint carries much of the body’s weight while walking, so bunions can cause pain, crowd the other toes, and rub on your shoes if left untreated.

Bunions are a deformity in which the bone or soft tissue surrounding the joint at the base of the big toe shifts and deviates towards the smaller toes. This malalignment leads to the characteristic bump on the side of your foot.

Bunions are a slow progressive deformity that can develop due to a combination of factors, including

Inherited Foot Structure

Bunions tend to run in families, suggesting a genetic component. This can include having loose or flexible joints, flat feet, or a pronated foot position that can place undue stress on the big toe joint, leading to the development of a bunion over time.

Trauma or Injury

An injury to the foot or toe can disrupt the normal alignment of the joint, potentially leading to either arthritis or the development of a bunion.

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or connective tissue disorders, can weaken the structures around the big toe joint, making it more susceptible to bunion forming.

Footwear

Shoes don’t cause bunion, but pointed shoes with a high heel will overload, pushing the big toe into a deformed position and speeding up the progression of bunions.

Wearing comfortable footwear, orthotics, padding, and anti-inflammatory medication will help with the pain associated with a bunion. As bunions slowly worsen, exercises, mobilisation, splints, and wedges between the toes can slow the progression but not correct them.

Over time, the bunion becomes enlarged and rubs on your shoe. The big toe deviates more, crowding the smaller toes, overloading and damaging the ligaments in the ball of the foot, which results in hammer toes.

Surgery is the only way to correct bunions and the alignment of your big toe. Not everyone needs surgery; bunions can remain pain-free and functional with comfortable shoes and other treatments.

However, if surgery is required, modern techniques mean bunion surgery has a high success rate, and recurrence is unlikely. There are no shortcuts, and recovery time needs to be allowed.

For information about the surgical treatment of bunions, please click the following link: https://myfootsurgeon.com.au/conditions/bunions