{"id":5350,"date":"2019-04-11T07:06:25","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T07:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=5350"},"modified":"2021-06-01T00:30:17","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T00:30:17","slug":"14-early-signs-of-bunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-early-signs-of-bunion\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Early Signs of Bunion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Does your big toe feel sore when you try to walk? If you\u2019re experiencing pain, and you notice a bump developing on the inside or underside of your big toe \u2013 you may be dealing with the development of a bunion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bunions occur when the big toe pushes against the inside toe, forming a bump. As a result, your big toe tends to wander over toward the other toes, and a bony growth appears over or under the joint. Bunions occur due to stress placed on the joint from wearing tight-fitting shoes and continuing to wear these types of footwear, such as high heels or boots that are too small for your feet, results in further exacerbation of your symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthritis and structural defects are also responsible for the development of bunions. If you notice any of the following signs or symptoms of a bunion, make an appointment with your podiatrist for a diagnosis.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.    Inflammation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As bunions start to grow, you\u2019ll notice a significant amount of inflammation <\/a>beginning to build in the joint of your big toe. At first, it\u2019s easy to write this symptom off to the effects of another condition \u2013 such as gout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as time passes, you\u2019ll notice that the symptoms continue to progress. Most cases of gout start to subside after a few days as the uric acid crystals dissolve, but with a bunion, pain symptoms exacerbate over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll notice that your big toe joint continues to swell, with the skin turning a red color, especially after wearing tight shoes. If left untreated and unmanaged, the bunion continues to produce swelling, until it reaches a stage where it starts to cause painful symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors will refer you to a podiatrist for treatment and management of your condition. Most podiatrists treat bunions using NSAIDs and painkillers to reduce symptoms of inflammation and pain.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2.    A Bony Bump on Your Big Toe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After noticing the inflammation symptoms, most concerned patients will seek treatment. However, many people brush off the symptoms of swelling<\/a>, misinterpreting the signs for other conditions, such as gout or stubbing their toe. Some people may have no idea of what\u2019s going on with their feet, and choose to ignore the symptoms in the hope that they will go away by themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, bunions will not reduce in size over time \u2013 they continue to grow and wreak havoc on the integrity of the big toe joint. As the deformity progresses, affected individuals start to notice a bony growth develop on the top, side, or underneath the big toe joint. This bony bump starts to produce symptoms of pain when you flex your big toe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage of the condition, most people will realize they have something wrong with their feet, and seek out a podiatrist for diagnosis and treatment of their situation.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3.    Callous or Corns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bunions <\/a>are painful, especially when they start to present symptoms of bony growths on the big toe. The inflammation symptoms in the affected area begin to reduce circulation to the big toe and surrounding skin, resulting in changes to the surface of the skin. People that continue to wear tight-fitting shoes may notice that the skin starts to thicken around the bony growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This callous or corn develops due to a few contributing factors. Rubbing of the affected joint on the inside of your shoe irritates the skin, forcing it to protect itself from further irritation. The lack of oxygenated blood flowing through the epidermis in this area also exacerbates your symptoms, and a lack of management of the situation increases its growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing corns and calluses are the body\u2019s means of protecting itself against wear and tear on the skin. People suffering from bunions may have the corns and callouses removed, but they tend to keep growing back. As a result, the patient may need to regularly file down or eliminate the hardened skin to prevent the condition from developing into an unmanageable situation.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4.    Intermittent or Persistent Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the initial stages of a bunion, the affected individual may not notice any symptoms of pain attributed to the condition. As inflammation <\/a>starts to take hold of the big toe joint, the patient may begin to see signs of slight intermittent pain that occurs when they change direction by spinning on the ball of their foot. They may also feel uncomfortable sensations after removing their shoes at the end of the working day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the condition advances, the bunion starts to present symptoms of intense pain when walking and fitting the foot into a shoe. These pain symptoms come and go, depending on the stress the person places on the joint through physical activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when the bunion enters the advanced stages of the condition, the affected individual may notice persistent pain symptoms begin to develop. As a result, they find it sore and painful to put on shoes, and they start to experience pain when walking.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5.    Loss of Mobility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the bunion reaches the advanced stages of the disorder, the patient may find that they lose mobility <\/a>in their big toe. Trying to flex the toe becomes challenging, and they may lose up to 90-percent of the movement on the affected joint. Any pressure on the joint forcing it to move, such as trying to push the toe with your fingers, create symptoms of extreme pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, many people may start to develop symptoms of arthritis in the big toe joint. This degenerative bone disease affects more than 40-million Americans, and it typically occurs in people over the age of 65-years old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, people with bunions risk developing early-onset arthritis symptoms because the condition ruins the joint of the big toe. The excessive inflammation in the affected area progresses symptoms of early-onset arthritis, leaving the patient with a permanent disability affecting the joint of the big toe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6.    Trouble Putting on Shoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wearing ill-fitting shoes is one of the leading causes of the development of bunions. Women that wear high-heel shoes with pointy toe-boxes typically experience a crimping effect as the toe-box squashes the toes together in the front of the shoe. This effect results in many different deformities and adverse health conditions in the toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early stages of a bunion, the affected individual may start to experience a tingling sensation in the toes as the structure of the front of the foot begins to take a strain<\/a>. As the bunion progresses and gains in size, the affected individual may notice that they have a hard time trying to put on their dress shoes for work or social occasions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of pain may accompany trying to squeeze the feet into ill-fitting footwear, and it\u2019s a clear sign that your toe is developing a bunion. Swap out your tight shoes for sandals or roomy shoes that don\u2019t place pressure on your toes.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7.    Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a specific segment of the population that has a higher risk of developing bunions. If you fall into any of the following risk categories, its best to examine your feet for signs of bunion development and make adjustments to your lifestyle <\/a>that prevent the advancement of the condition in your toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Women who are older than 18, that work in a professional setting requiring them to wear high-heel shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People that wear ill-fitting shoes that have a small toe-box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People that wear shoes a size too small for their feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Runners who are wearing shoes with tight toe-boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People with degenerative bone disease \u2013 Rheumatoid arthritis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People with family members that have a history of developing bunions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People with flat feet or structural deformities affecting the toes and feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you fall into any of these high-risk categories? If so, make an appointment with your podiatrist to discuss treatment and care for your feet.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8.    When to See a Doctor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any signs of a bunion developing on your big toe, or if you fall into one of the high-risk categories mentioned above, then it’s best if you arrange an appointment with a qualified podiatrist to discuss your treatment <\/a>options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting your family practitioner won\u2019t do you any favors. Your GP does not have the specialized training necessary to treat your condition. The chances are that they will refer you to a specialist after your consultation \u2013 wasting your time and money on the GP\u2019s consultation fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your podiatrist examines your feet and maps out a plan for your treatment and management of your condition. In most cases, podiatrists treat bunions using ice to reduce inflammation, splints to ensure the tow does to turn toward the other toes, and medication to control inflammation and pain symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On rare occasions, your podiatrist may recommend Tenex surgery to remove scar tissue affecting the joints mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Hammertoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This adverse structural deformity of the feet occurs dues to compressive pressure on the ligaments <\/a>and joints in the toes. Such an example of stress that can cause this condition would be women that force their toes into high heels with pointed toe boxes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The elevation of the heel pushes the toes into the front of the shoe while squashing them together on the sides. Over time, the tendons may shorten, resulting in hammertoe, when the toes fold over the others or bend downward at the joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many women who develop hammertoes are also prone to developing bunions, as the same contributing factors, such as ill-fitting footwear, lead to the development of both structural disorders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women with hammertoes or bunions need to reconsider their footwear choices and try wearing flat-soled shoes with full toes boxes \u2013 such as running shoes. This strategy allows the toes to spread out, relieving symptoms of hammertoes and bunions.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Metatarsalgia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with bunions may also notice that they experience pain in the ball of their foot. This pain occurs during any activity \u2013 walking or standing. This condition is known as, \u201cmetatarsalgia,\u201d and occurs due to inflammation of the soft tissues around the five metatarsal bones<\/a> that transect the middle of the foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people may also know this condition as a \u201cstone bruise.\u201d Metatarsalgia can make walking very painful, and it feels like you jumped from a height onto a stone with the ball of your foot, hence its moniker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This condition is a common injury for runners that overtrain and place to much stress on the tissues around the metatarsal bones, resulting in inflammation and swelling. Symptoms may start as a slight pain, and develop into pain that prevents the patient from walking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since metatarsalgia affects the ball of the foot, the additional inflammation may irritate your bunion, causing an increase in symptoms associated with the condition.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Knee Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A bunion may cause structural issues with posture as discussed. However, these problems take years to develop, and should the patient catch the symptoms and signs of a bunion early enough; they may avoid the lasting complications of the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, those people that choose to leave their bunion to do as it pleases may start to develop compensatory posture and movements that reduce the pain on the big toe while walking<\/a>. While this may provide some pain relief, it can lead to severe structural complications down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people with a bunion that choose to alter their walking posture may walk on the outside of the foot to relieve pressure on the big toe. As a result, the ankle starts to compensate for the change in the foot angle, passing on these structural issues to the knee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the patient may start to develop problems with their knee, such as issues with the meniscus and joint cartilage erosion.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Hip Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The structural issues don\u2019t stop at the knees. When the knee joint starts to compensate for changes in the ankle, it also causes problems with the structural integrity of the hip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, of the knee issue, the hip may move inward, causing pressure on the joint that wears away cartilage<\/a>. As a result, the person may find that they start to develop a limp, and the entire leg requires rehabilitation and physiotherapy to return to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This condition does not occur overnight, or even over a few months \u2013 it takes years of repetitive movements to induce this kind of structural deformity in the entire limb. The longer the patient waits to receive rehabilitation \u2013 the higher the chance of them never being able to recover the full mobility of the leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a bunion that\u2019s starting the change the way you walk, it’s best if you speak to your doctor about surgery options to remove the scar tissue from your toe.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13.    Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a specific segment of the population that has a higher risk of developing bunions. If you fall into any of the following risk categories, its best to examine your feet for signs of bunion development and make adjustments to your lifestyle that prevent the advancement of the condition in your toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Women who are older than 18, that work in a professional setting requiring them to wear high-heel shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People that wear ill-fitting shoes that have a small toe-box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People that wear shoes a size too small for their feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Runners who are wearing shoes with tight toe-boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People with degenerative bone disease \u2013 Rheumatoid arthritis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People with family members that have a history of developing bunions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People with flat feet or structural deformities affecting the toes and feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you fall into any of these high-risk categories? If so, make an appointment with your podiatrist to discuss treatment and care for your feet.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14.    When to See a Doctor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any signs of a bunion developing on your big toe, or if you fall into one of the high-risk categories mentioned above, then it’s best if you arrange an appointment with a qualified podiatrist <\/a>to discuss your treatment options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting your family practitioner won\u2019t do you any favors. Your GP does not have the specialized training necessary to treat your condition. The chances are that they will refer you to a specialist after your consultation \u2013 wasting your time and money on the GP\u2019s consultation fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your podiatrist examines your feet and maps out a plan for your treatment and management of your condition. In most cases, podiatrists treat bunions using ice to reduce inflammation, splints to ensure the tow does to turn toward the other toes, and medication to control inflammation and pain symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On rare occasions, your podiatrist may recommend Tenex surgery to remove scar tissue affecting the joints mobility.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>