At Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC a condition we treat fairly often is bunions. Despite their being rather common, much misinformation about bunions persists. Below are some true/false statements about bunions to help get the facts out there.

A bunion is a growth on the side of your foot.

FALSE: The visible bump that you see on the side of your foot is actually the result of a change in the bones in your foot. With this deformity, the big toe begins to drift toward the second toe which forces the bones out of alignment and forms the bump that you see on the side of your toe.

Bunions are caused by wearing shoes that are too tight.

FALSE: Wearing shoes that squeeze the toes together may aggravate bunions and even accelerate the appearance of symptoms, but the actual cause is a flawed mechanical structure of the foot, which is often inherited.

A bunion will not go away on its own.

TRUE: Bunions are a progressive disorder. Left untreated they will only get worse. Initial symptoms are pain and soreness, a burning sensation, numbness and inflammation. As time goes on, the toe will continue to move inward and may eventually overlap the second toe, causing the deformity to grow larger and making wearing shoes and walking very difficult.

The only treatment for bunions is surgery.

FALSE: Although it is true that the only way to actually remove a bunion is through surgery, there are other non-invasive treatments your podiatrist can try to relieve pain and discomfort and hopefully slow the progression of the bunion. These include medications and icing to help with pain and swelling, using padding to protect the bunion and reduce friction and orthotic devices to help correct the faulty foot structure.

The Right Treatment for You

One of our podiatrists, Dr. Scott E Hughes, Dr. Gregg P. Vogt, or Dr. Christine I.Tumele will work with you to determine the best treatment for your individual case. First, the foot doctor will want to conduct a complete examination of your feet as well as get a medical history from you. Digital x-rays (which can be done right in either our Monroe or Lambertville office) will most likely be ordered so the foot and ankle surgeon can see how far the bunion has progressed. Then a treatment plan will be developed that’s right for your bunion and your lifestyle. Remember, bunions will only get worse as time goes on so if you have one, make an appointment to get it evaluated sooner rather than later.