Screaming Bunions

When someone has a bunion, the big toe joint may be enlarged, red and sore. This occurs because the abnormal bony growth affects the tissues in the big toe joint, which can cause inflammation and swelling. Medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve swelling. In addition, a patient can apply ice to the affected bunion when he notices swelling. Finally, elevating the bunion above the level of the heart during sleep can allow gravity to pull fluid out of the big toe joint, which will reduce swelling. A patient should see his doctor when swelling is persistent. Calluses Making sure that shoes don't press against the bunion worsening the pain is the first line of treatment. Protecting the bunion with felt or foam pads or devices to separate the first and second toes at night may be recommended as may cutting a hole in a pair of old, comfortable shoes to take the pressure off the bony protrusion. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be recommended to help relieve toe pain. In rare cases, physicians may administer injections of corticosteroids to treat the inflamed bursa (fluid-filled sac located in a joint) sometimes seen with bunions. Custom orthotic devices are another option that may be beneficial in some cases. Choose shoes that have a wide toe box so your feet and toes will have plenty of wiggle room. The ideal shoe for helping to prevent bunions will have at least a half-inch of room between your longest toe and the tip of the shoe. The shoe should conform to the shape of your foot and be comfortable at the widest point of your foot. The heel height is not as important as the fit of the shoe. If the shoe fits properly and has a wide toe box, wearing high heels should not cause problems. In evaluating a patient for surgical correction of their bunion deformity, ultimately, the different causes of the patient's Metatarsus Premus Adductus and Abductovalgus Deformity must be determined by the surgeon. Usually, the cause of the bunion deformity is solely due to widening of the first metatarsal away from other metatarsals. However, there are many anatomical reasons that a bunion deformity can be in existence and this is why a foot specialist should evaluate a bunion deformity prior to surgery. This type of narrowing procedure typically severely narrows the knuckle joint of the great toe and has been associated with numerous complications such as early degenerative joint arthritis. How many times will a patient come into my office almost paralyzed with fear when talking about their bunion pain ? Many patients are very apprehensive about bunion surgery. They have heard horror stories of severe pain and bad outcomes. These are usually not true. Bunion surgery is actually quite successful, in the right patient, done by the right doctor. Most patients have a lot of questions about whether they should have surgery and what to expect during and after surgery. This is an attempt to dispel old wive's tales and help you to make a more informed decision about bunion surgery. A foot corn is an area of thickened skin that develops when pressure is repeatedly exerted on small areas over a bony prominence such as the toes. It is the accumulation of dead skin cells in the center that gives it a conical shape. A toe corn could develop on the top of a toe or between toes. A hardened area of skin that develops on the top of a toe is called a hard corn. On the other hand, a soft corn is a painful lesion that develops between toes. The tennis ball raises exercise teaches you to maintain correct alignment in the feet an ankle. This prevents improper alignment, which in turn prevents pressure on the big toe that can lead to bunions. The ball of the foot should remain centered under the knee during most of the day. Letting your arch flatten and your weight shift to the big toe side of your foot in unhealthy for the big toes. To strengthen your feet, ankles and calves while keeping correct alignment, stand up tall with a tennis ball squeezed between your ankles. Rise slowly onto the balls of your feet with your ankles level.