Your feet are an important tool. They get you from point A to point B whenever necessary, and the average person can take approximately 10,000 steps a day! Staying on your toes can sometimes result in painful effects, and one of them is the ocassional bunion. While there are many people who suffer from this foot ailment, there are a number of people who don't actually know that they have it, and Family Foot Care is here to give some helpful pointers on how you can spot and treat bunions.
What is a bunion?
A bunion is formed when bone or tissue surround the joint at the head of the big toe (metatarsophalangeal joint), causing it to become enlarged. The big toe (hallux) may in some cases turn in towards the second toe (angulation) and tissue surrounding the joint may become swollen and tender.
Tell Tale Symptoms of Bunions
- A stiff and elevated bump on the outside edge of the foot.
- Redness, swelling or pain at or near the MTP joint.
- Corns, irritation or painful motions of the big toe.
How Do You Get a Bunion?
Bunions can generally form when the normal balance of forces that is exerted on the joints and tendons of the foot becomes disrupted. An example of this is when people wear poorly fitting shoes. More commonly, bunions can also be hereditary and are often found amongst women in the United States.
What Can You Do For Relief?
To relive the pain and irritation often associated with bunions, you can apply a commercial, nonmedicated bunion pad around the bony prominence. It is also a good idea to wear shoes with a wide and deep toe box. Women should avoid high-heeled shoes over two inches tall whenever possible and for optimal care, see your podiatric physician if pain persists.
Family Foot Care can help to relieve a series of painful foot problems with specialized treatment in minimal incision procedures of the foot, as well as in the surgical and non-surgical treatments of various foot pathologies including bunions, Taylor's bunions, hammertoes, neuromas and heel spurs.
Dr. Emmanuel Fuzaylov and Dr. Dean Spellman are the founders of Family Foot Care, and they pride themselves on the success record of their practice, offering high quality customer care and pain relief to treat each patient. Gettting from point A to B shouldn't be painful. Take a step towards better foot health today with Ideal Feet Podiatry.
