Your foot has changed, and now you notice a bump at the base of the big toe. In fact, it's turning inward. This problem is called a bunion, and your podiatrists at Metroplex Foot & Ankle Center in Fort Worth, TX, see it often. Though progressive, bunions can be managed for pain relief and improved foot functionality. Dr. Leslie Rousseau and Dr. Steven Lund definitely can help you.
How bunions happen
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says people--mostly women--develop bunion because of:
- Age (over 40)
- Inherited foot anatomy
- Overuse, particularly standing for long periods of time
- Shoes which are too narrow in the toes and too high in the heels (putting extreme pressures on the forefoot and toes)
- A gait issue called overpronation (your foot rolls toward its inner aspect as you walk or run)
Symptoms of bunions
Most people complain of some pain and joint tenderness. The bony bump progresses over time, becoming larger and more obvious, and friction happens with the inside of the shoe. Corns and calluses form, and the big toe actually may turn (sometimes radically) toward the second or even third toe. This deformity leads to arthritis and limitations in range of motion.
Treating bunions
Your podiatrists in Fort Worth find that most bunions respond well to simple, non-invasive treatments. Surgeries to remove the bump and straighten the metatarsophalangeal joint in the big toe are more the exception than the rule.
So, Dr. Rousseau and Dr. Lund review symptoms, do a hands-on exam and take X-rays to determine the right course of action. It's different for each patient according to the severity of the problem, lifestyle impact, age, and other important considerations.
Common ways to treat bunions include:
- Over-the-counter analgesics, such as ibuprofen, for pain
- Rest
- Ice to the affected area
- Elevation of the foot
- Shoes with ample room in the toes and lower heels--no higher than two inches, recommends the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- In-shoe padding to reduce friction
- Customized shoe inserts (orthotics)
Find out more
Get your life back with bunion treatment from your knowledgeable podiatrists in Fort Worth, TX, Dr. Leslie Rousseau and Dr. Steven Lund. Metroplex Foot & Ankle Center has two convenient locations. For the N. Richland Hills/Alliance office, phone (815) 595-1310, and for the Denton location, call (940) 323-2225.