Treatment of Bunions
What causes bunions?
Tight-fitting narrow shoes and high heels can cause bunions. When a bunion forms, the big toe joint grows in size and protrudes outward. The skin over this toe gets tender and red, and bursitis or arthritis may occur. Bunions can also develop from foot injuries, and sometimes are congenital in nature.
Several factors increase your risk of developing bunions:
High heels – Wearing high heels can overcrowd your toes and can lead to bunions.
Ill-fitting shoes – People (particularly women) who wear shoes that are too tight, too narrow, or too pointed are at risk for bunion formation.
Arthritis – Pain from arthritis could alter the way you walk and lead to bunions.
Heredity – An inherited structural foot defect can cause bunions.
What is an adolescent bunion?
An adolescent bunion forms at the base of the large toe and affects girls aged 10 to 15 years of age. Unlike the adult bunion, the teen can move the affected joint normally, but has pain wearing certain shoes. Treatment involves having the child’s shoes stretched or buying wider-sized shoes. Surgery is almost always avoided until growth is complete.
What is a bunionette?
A bunionette is a swollen, painful lump on the outside of your foot near the base of your small (fifth) toe. Also called a tailor’s bunion, bunionettes have a hard corn and painful bursitis. Just like bunions, bunionettes are caused from wearing ill-fitting shoes. For those cases of persistent pain and deformity, surgical correction is necessary.
What is the treatment for bunions?
Nonsurgical Treatment
Most bunions are treatable without surgical intervention. If the bunion causes you to have difficulty walking, the orthopedic specialist will recommend 腳趾外翻手術 special shoes, avoidance of certain shoe types, padding and taping, shoe inserts, and/or medications.
Changing Shoes – The orthopedic specialist will recommend comfortable, roomy shoes with adequate space for your toes. These special shoes will conform to your foot shape as well as have a wide instep, broad toes, and soft soles.
Avoiding Shoes – Treatment involves avoidance of pointed shoes, tight-fitting shoes, and high heels.
Padding and Taping – Your doctor will show you how to tape and pad your foot to hold it into normal position. These measures reduce stress on the bunion and relieve pain.
Shoe Inserts – Padded shoe inserts help redistribute the pressure evenly to reduce your symptoms. In addition, these devices may prevent your bunion from getting worse. Some people also find relief with the use of over-the-counter arch supports.
Medications – Our orthopedic specialists recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve) to control bunion pain
