If you have painful sores on the sides of your feet which make it very uncomfortable to walk or run, you may have bunions. They can be very uncomfortable, and limit your ability to move around or exercise comfortably.
Now may be the time to take care of them. However, before you do, it is important to understand them so you can be sure they are the specific thing which is ailing you.
The common bunion is a localized area of enlargement of the inner portion of the joint, at the base of the big toe. The enlargement actually represents additional bone formation, often in combination with a misalignment of the big toe.
The normal position of the big toe, which is a straight forward direction, becomes outward-directed toward the smaller toes. The enlarged joint at the base of the big toe can become inflamed with redness, tenderness, and pain.
A small fluid-filled sac adjacent to the joint can also become inflamed, leading to additional swelling, redness, and pain. A less common bunion is located at the joint at the base of the smallest toe.
This is sometimes referred to as a tailor's bunion. Strangely enough, bunions most commonly affect women.
Some studies report that they occur nearly ten times more frequently in women than men. It has been suggested that tight-fitting shoes, especially ones which are high-heeled and narrow-toed, might increase the risk for formation.
These sores are reported to be more prevalent in people who wear shoes, than in barefoot people. There also seem to be inherited factors that predispose people to the development of them, especially when they occur in younger individuals.
Other risk factors for their development include congenital abnormal formation of the bones of the foot, nerve conditions that affect the foot, rheumatoid arthritis, and injuries. They are especially common in ballet dancers.
These sores may or may not cause symptoms. A frequent symptom is pain in the involved area when walking or wearing shoes-it is often simply relieved by resting.
A doctor will also look for swelling, redness, and pain upon contact. The anatomy of the foot is assessed during the examination.
An x-ray of the foot can be helpful to determine the integrity of the joints of the foot, and to screen for underlying conditions, such as arthritis or gout. X-ray films are an excellent method of calculating the alignment of the toes.
Simply resting the feet by avoiding excessive walking, and wearing loose shoes or sandals can often relieve the irritating pain. Walking shoes may have some advantages, for example, over high-heeled styles that tug the big toe outward.
Anti-inflammation medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can help to ease inflammation as well as pain. Consult your doctor before using any of these medications.
Local cold pack application is sometimes helpful as well. To reduce tension on the inner part of the joint, stretching exercises are sometimes assigned by your doctor.
A special splint, usually worn at night, can provide further relief. Depending on the structure of the foot, custom insoles might add further support and repositioning.
Inflammation of the joint at the base of the big toe may be relieved by a local injection of cortisone. If your pain is completely unmanageable, talk to your doctor about this option.
Any signs of skin breakdown or infection may require antibiotics. When the measures above are effective in relieving symptoms, patients should avoid irritating the bunion again by optimizing footwear and foot care.
For those more serious cases, a surgical operation is considered. Surgical procedures can correct deformity and relieve pain leading to improved function.
These procedures typically involve removing the bony growth, while realigning the big toe. Surgery is often but not always successful, and failure to relieve pain can result from the big toe moving back to its deviated position before the operation.
Proper footwear and activity restrictions can reduce the chances of surgical failure. If initial therapy is ineffective, a return visit to the health-care practitioner is advised.
There is no reason for you to suffer, when you have lots of other options. If this pain is plaguing you, talk to a doctor right away about making a treatment plan-start by taking a load off, and relaxing a little.
Author Resource:-
Tommy Greene has worked in surgical equipment sales for the past 15 years. He has great advice and information on Electrosurgery Unit .
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