Month: February 2019

Bunions are a common and frustrating condition. About 23% of people age 18 to 65 will develop them over the course of their lifetime and more than one-third of people over age 65 have them.

Here’s a guide to bunions, also known as hallux valgus, from how they develop on the feet to tips for treating them with the help of a podiatrist.

What is a Bunion?

A bunion forms when the joint of the moves out of place, causing the affected toe to stick out or develop a bump. While minor bunions may not be bothersome, a more serious bunion can cause significant pain.

Not all bunions are on the big toe, although this is the most common spot. They also occur on the outside of the foot, at the join of the littlest toe. Small bunions on the little toe are often called bunionettes or tailor’s buttons.

Why Do I Have Bunions?

We hate to tell you this, but it might just be genetic. Bunions run in families. This foot problem in a parent can easily develop in their child too.

Women are more likely to have bunions than men due to the hormones that come with puberty and pregnancy. People of European descent are also more likely to have bunions.

Sometimes bunions form due to ill-fitting footwear or repetitive motion issues. Wearing high heels is a known contributor to bunion development. The same goes for wearing shoes that are too tight or playing a sport that aggravates a toe joint problem.

Many bunions form simply due to age. Older adults are much more likely to have bunions than children and young adults. About 60% of older adults over age 55 have experienced at least one bunion.

What Does a Bunion Feel Like?

Bunions are painful. When the toe joint is displaced, the early feeling is one of pressure or rubbing. As the bunion progresses, you may have intense, pressing pain or stabbing feelings in your toe or foot.

Over time, the bunion may cause you to develop a limp or affect your ability to walk completely upright. Women who wear high heels may find themselves unable to wear them any longer. In fact, anyone with bunions can find it painful to simply put on their shoes in the morning.

What if It’s Not a Bunion?

This is a good question to ask. Don’t assume something is a bunion without having it evaluated by a podiatrist.

Gout, for example, sometimes masquerades as a bunion. Swelling and redness in the feet causes people to mistake one condition for the other.

Arthritis in the big toe joint is another possibility due to similar feelings of pain and stiffness.

Cysts, specifically ganglion cysts, can also seem like bunions. A podiatrist can examine your feet and tell you for sure.

What Can I Do About Bunions?

There is a wide variety of treatments available for bunions. Here’s a roundup of possibilities, although your doctor should help you decide which are best for your specific situation.

Shoes
Ensure your shoes have plenty of room in the toe box (the part surrounding your toes) without friction, sliding, and squeezing. They should have flat soles and cushioned bottoms. Buy your shoes in the afternoon, after your feet have experienced natural swelling, so you don’t accidentally buy them too small.

Insoles and orthotics
A podiatrist can recommend special insoles that support your feet and promote a proper gait. They’re much better than drugstore shoe inserts, which aren’t tailored to your feet and in some cases can make bunions worse.

Bunion pads, tapes, separators
Non-medicated pads and tapes are a solution that may be recommended by your podiatrist. These are sometimes used in conjunction with toe separators, which ease pain and prevent worsening of the bunion.

Ice packs
You can use ice to reduce inflammation and give yourself some relief from the pain. Don’t apply ice directly to the bunion; use a bag or fabric to create a gentle barrier between your skin and the ice.

Medications and injections
Your doctor may recommend non-inflammatory medications or a cortisone injection to help with pain and swelling.

Surgery
Podiatric surgery may be required to cut the bone and realign the joint. For less severe bunions, a surgery called a bunionectomy can remove the bony lump and give you some relief.

Do I Need to See a Podiatrist?

If you have any of the issues described above, or are curious about your bunion treatment options, it’s time to consult an expert. Connect with Podiatry Associates for an evaluation. We’re dedicated to preserving your foot health.

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Wondering if it’s time to see a podiatrist? You’re not alone – 77% of U.S. adults have experienced foot pain or problems in their lifetime. Yet only about one-third of them seek care from a podiatrist.

At Podiatry Associates, we encourage you to address foot issues before they become emergencies. Proper foot care prevents ongoing pain, limits damage from injury and disease, and preserves your foot health for a lifetime.

Here are some common signs it’s time to consult a podiatrist.

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Do You Need a Podiatrist?

 

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You Have Ingrown Toenails

Some people have persistently ingrown toenails, and some just experience occasional pain from a sharp toenail edge. Either way, a podiatrist can help.

One thing is for sure: Don’t attempt to cut or file ingrown toenails yourself. Infection can hide below the surface of an ingrown toenail, and you could quickly cause more damage than you had before.

There are many possibilities for ingrown toenails, from simple in-office procedures to more extensive surgical options. Your podiatrist can also help you understand the underlying cause of your ingrown toenails, so you can prevent them in the future.

You Have Bunions, Corns, or Calluses

Any kind of bump or irregularity in the foot can be cause for concern. Many people first visit a podiatrist because they are concerned about bunions, corns, or calluses.

A bunion is a painful bump or bulging on the big toe’s joint. Most bunions are caused by inherited conditions, walking habits, and poorly-fitting shoes. Bunions often run in families. Talk to your podiatrist about the latest in bunion care.

Corns and calluses are dead skin cells that build up on the foot. They most commonly occur due to friction from footwear but are also associated with diabetes and other health conditions. Avoid home remedies, like herbal soaks, which may make corns and calluses worse.

Your Feet are Dry and Cracked

It’s normal to have dry feet from time to time, but when you have flaking skin or long, dry cracks in the feet, that’s a much more serious problem. Treating your feet with moisturizing body lotions? Not so fast. They can actually make dryness worse in the long run, depending on the ingredients and perfumes they contain.

A podiatrist helps you get to the root cause behind your dry or cracked feet. This allows you to treat them properly and prevent the issue from worsening over time.

You’ve Been Diagnosed with Diabetes

A diabetes diagnosis should inspire you to call a podiatrist right away. People with diabetes are much more prone to foot problems.

Pay close attention to changes in your feet and share them with your podiatrist. Common foot conditions that are associated with diabetes include numbness, tingling, open sores, foot and leg pain, bleeding, swelling, peeling, cracking, and changes in skin color.

Your Child Has Foot Pain

Perhaps your child has a foot condition from birth, or they have developed a nagging problem over time. Don’t wait to get them examined, because foot problems can lead to other problems as children’s bodies grow: leg pain, back pain, and posture problems, just to name a few.

Although not all podiatrists accept children, they are welcome at Podiatry Associates and we invite you to reach out to us for a youth appointment.

You Have a Sports Injury

Whether you are injured during a sporting event, or just while throwing around a football in the yard on Superbowl Sunday? Foot injuries from sports tend to be high-impact and should be examined by a professional as quickly as possible.

Pay close attention to sports-related injuries that include bleeding, limping, swelling, discoloration, and a feeling of tearing or popping. Help your podiatrist understand how the injury happened and how it has affected your daily activities since.

You Have Persistent Pain

Pain can be disabling and discouraging. It’s your body’s way of alerting you to a problem, so don’t ignore it.

Also, don’t be embarrassed if you can’t pinpoint the exact location of your pain. Don’t worry if you can’t remember an event that triggered it.

Unspecified pain can sometimes be an indication of serious health issues like peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, and vascular disease. Or it can just mean you need some new shoes, new habits, or a bit of TLC.

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Time to See a Podiatrist?

If you have any of the issues described above, it’s time to consult an expert. Connect with Podiatry Associates for an evaluation. All of our doctors are board certified/qualified and we’re dedicated to preserving your foot health.

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