Stop Developing Bunions in Their Tracks

Bunions on your big toes can look unsightly, but even worse, the lumps they form make putting on a pair of shoes downright painful. In fact, your footwear might be part of the problem in the first place. 

We think that one of the reasons women are more likely to suffer from bunions than men has to do with more time spent wearing tighter, more restrictive shoes. Luckily, bunions aren't inevitable. 

Left untreated, bunions can develop into a serious chronic health issue, producing pain and inhibiting your quality of life. At Town Center Foot & Ankle, Stephen Eichelsdorfer, DPM, known as Dr. Ike to his patients, has the board-certified expertise you can rely on to maintain your foot and joint health. 

Here's what Dr. Ike recommends for patients worried about getting a bunion.

Chronic foot pain results from pressure

Bunions form a jutting bulge on the side of your foot. This is the result of a deformity to the first of your feet's metatarsal bones, at the joint of your big toe. Eventually, pressure on the lump of a bunion can cause the fluid-filled sac, called a bursa, around your big toe joint to grow inflamed. Your joint becomes stiff and painful.

Many factors contribute to the development of a bunion. Genetic issues like inherited foot shape or a family tendency to bunions can increase your chances. You also are more likely to develop bunions as you age. Bunions often emerge alongside rheumatoid arthritis.

Still, the biggest risk factor for bunions is your footwear. Hours spent in tight-fitting high heels or pumps with sharply pointed toes put pressure on your foot bones, causing bunions to emerge as your bones lose proper alignment. Continuing to wear uncomfortable shoes with a bunion is not only painful or uncomfortable; it can actually make the problem worse.

Give your feet support and relief

Not everyone feels pain as a result of bunions, but related issues like corns or irritated calluses can cause discomfort as well. Bad bunions can become so inflamed and painful that they can end up limiting your movement, keeping you from living your fullest life.

If you catch a bunion early, you can take steps to prevent the issue from worsening. Make use of conservative therapies to cushion your feet and relieve pressure on the affected joint, like:

• Padding
• Taping
• Custom-designed orthotics

And just switching to the right footwear can stop your bunions from developing further.

At Town Center Foot & Ankle, Dr. Ike can support you every step of the way on your journey toward restored foot health. He uses advanced high-definition X-ray imaging to diagnose and examine your bunions, then works with you to put together a personalized treatment plan to get your feet back in proper shape. 

If you need more intensive treatment options, including cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications, or surgical intervention, Dr. Ike is right beside you.

To get started with your initial consultation appointment, contact us at Town Center Foot & Ankle. You can schedule by calling our Kingwood or Atascocita, Texas, office or request an appointment through our online tool.