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What are bunions?
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
If you ignore a bunion
Prevention
FAQs

What Are Bunions?

A bunion (medically known as Hallux Abducto Valgus) is a bony bump on the inside border of your foot that is caused by a change to the alignment of your big toe. Bunions develop when your big toe angles toward your second toe instead of pointing straight, forcing the base of the toe outwards and creating the typical ‘bump’ on the inside of the foot. 

As a bunion grows worse over time, you may find that your big toe eventually loses flexibility and functionality, becoming fairly stiff and rigid. For many, their bunion also develops osteoarthritis. 

Bunions are typically not painful unless tight shoes rub against them, irritating them. However, some experience inflammation, pain, and swelling at the big toe joint. 

While regular bunions affect the big toe, if your bump is over by your little toe, this is called a Tailor’s bunion or bunionette.

What Causes Bunions?

Bunions are often genetic in nature, meaning they run in families, likely due to bone structure traits and musculoskeletal characteristics. To be more precise, it’s not the bunion itself that is inherited, but the foot characteristics that can put you at a higher risk of developing bunions. 

Many are also linked to placing too much stress and pressure (overloading) the big toe joint over a long period. This results in soft tissue and bony adaptations. 

Common causes of bunions include: 

• Flat feet that roll inwards when you walk (pronation), where forces load excessively on the big toe and joint. 
  
• High-heeled or narrow footwear that forces the toes into a tight toe box.
  
• Injury or trauma to the big toe joint
• A chronic condition like rheumatoid arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints

Symptoms

The physical bump on the side of your foot is the main sign to look for when working out if you have a bunion. Additional signs and symptoms may include: 

• Redness and inflammation in the affected area
  
• Pain in the affected area may come and go 
  
• Your big toe turning inward toward your second toe
  
• Hardened skin on the ball of your foot
  
• Corns or calluses may be present, particularly in the area where your big toe and second toe rub together
  
• Difficulty moving your big toe
  
• Pain or injury to the ball of your foot or lesser toes. 
  
• Gout
  

You can expect similar signs and symptoms for a Tailor's bunion except that the bony lump will appear at the outside of your foot at the base of your little toe. You may experience irritation, pain, swelling and redness around the affected area, usually from wearing shoes that are too tight, causing them to rub. Corns and calluses may also develop. 

Diagnosis

Our podiatrists can diagnose a bunion after a thorough clinical assessment of your history and symptoms. In some cases, if we need to know the severity of the bunion and whether any osteoarthritic changes have developed, an X-ray may be required, which we can refer you for. Depending on the findings, this will help guide the best form of treatment.

Bunion Treatment

Our podiatrists recommend various treatment options that will help your bunions, depending on your situation. Usually, the primary goal of the treatment is to reduce your symptoms to enable you to return to your daily activities and reduce or cease the progression of the deformity. 

There are both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options, and the action we take will depend upon your personal situation. 

• If your bunion is painful, the MLS laser can help reduce the pain and inflammation, improving your daily comfort and quality of life.
  
• Improve and maintain the movement of the big toe through exercises, stretches and splinting, which we can provide.
  
• Orthotics may be required to help re-distribute pressure away from the painful areas of your foot and enable optimal foot function. This can greatly improve your daily comfort and movement. 
  
• Improving strength, mobility and flexibility not only in the affected joint but the other foot and ankle joints and soft tissue structures. 
  

• Choose shoes with deep and wide toe boxes with plenty of wiggle room for your toes. Our team can help recommend a range of shoes.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is the only way to "fix" the bunion. However, non-surgical conservative bunion treatment options have been proven to be successful and surgery is typically used as a last resort. Due to the prolonged recovery time of usually 8 weeks - 6 months and potential complications such as: 

• Damage to the nerves
  
• Infection 
  
• Reaction to anaesthetic
  
• Problems with bone healing
  
• Loss of movement in your big toe
  
• Pain in the ball of your foot 
  
• And even severe pain, stiffness and loss of use of your foot
  

What can happen if I leave a bunion untreated?

• The bunion can gradually worsen, meaning treatment later on will be more intense, and the condition may be harder to manage in terms of pain and function.
  
• Bursitis can simultaneously occur from the bunion causing irritation to the fluid-filled sac (bursa) that cushions the joint, leading to inflammation and swelling, then pain and tenderness.
  
• Arthritis can develop and eventually cause rigidity in the joint. 
  
• Your foot may become deformed due to impact on other toes and toe joints
  
• Lose movement in your big toe altogether
  
• Chronic pain
  

Preventing Bunions

While not all bunions can be prevented, the following activities may help to reduce your risk. 

• Reduce the amount of time wearing heeled or narrow footwear and instead wear shoes that fit correctly.
  
• Your feet swell throughout the day so it's best to buy new shoes at the end of the day to ensure they're never going to be too tight.
  
• If you have flat feet, it may be recommended you wear orthotics.
  
• If your family has a history of bunions, keep track of the shape of your feet over time. 
  
• Maintain a healthy body weight to relieve pressure on your feet and big toes.
  

FAQs