If you’re dealing with a painful bunion, professional podiatry care can help you get back on your feet and moving again, pain-free. Although bunions are most common in elderly patients, the truth is that anyone of any age can develop this painful condition. Overly tight shoes or anything else that exerts excess pressure on the side of your big toe can cause a bunion. With early intervention, you can prevent the need for invasive bunion surgery. At Dynamic Foot and Ankle Center, we specialize in innovative techniques for podiatry care. Bunions are treatable and, with our personalized aftercare instructions, preventable. Please call or fill out our secure online contact form today to schedule your appointment.
Bunions: Causes, Treatments, And Prevention
A bunion is a hard, bony bump that forms on the outside of the big toe where the toe connects with the foot. It forms when the big toe presses against the smaller toes due to consistent pressure against the big toe. While a genetic disposition and the shape of your foot play a role in the risk of developing bunions, our podiatrists often see bunions form in women who frequently wear high-heeled, pointed-toe shoes. The shape of the shoes and duration of wearing them place too much pressure on the toes, causing the bunion to form and the toes to become misaligned.
Bunions aren’t restricted to the big toe area. Some patients may also suffer from bunionettes or small bony lumps at the base of the pinkie toe. Bunionettes form in the same way as bunions: excessive pressure pushes the toes inward.
Left untreated, if the individual continues to wear heels or pointed-toe shoes, bunions increase in size and become very painful. You may have difficulty walking or even putting on regular shoes. The good news is that no matter how large, swollen, and painful your bunions are, we can treat them. Our expert podiatrists employ minimally invasive techniques to reduce the size of the bunions and alleviate your pain and discomfort.
We evaluate the bunion or bunion on your feet and then do a lifestyle analysis with you to determine the cause. We begin with techniques like RICE (rest, elevation, ice) and changing the type of shoes you wear and may prescribe pain medication and anti-inflammatories.
If minimally invasive techniques don’t relieve the bunion, we may recommend surgery or fusing the toe to the foot, which can help prevent bunions from reforming. We may also work with you to create custom orthotics, which can help you walk more comfortably as your bunions heal and reduce the risk of developing new ones.
When You Need Bunion Relief, Experience Matters
A painful bunion can prevent you from working, caring for your family, or even walking without assistance. Our Dynamic Foot and Ankle Center experts work with you to find the best options to cure your bunions, relieve your pain, and get you back on your feet. Our experience and expertise ensure that you’ll have the best possible care:
- We stress patient comfort and minimally invasive techniques
- Dr. Gloschat, DPM, is a board-qualified specialist in foot and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery
- Our expert podiatrists develop individualized patient care plans to alleviate bunion pain and reduce swelling to help you avoid surgery
- Virtual and on-site physical therapists specializing in neuromuscular conditions deliver treatment in the comfort of your own home
You don’t have to suffer through the pain and discomfort of bunions forever. At Dynamic Foot and Ankle Center, we’re ready to help you live a pain-free life. Call today for a new patient appointment.
