A common foot problem that may need to be seen by a podiatrist are bunions. A bunion is a protuberance of tissue or bone around one’s joint. The enlargement will occur either at the bast of the great toe or on the outside of a person’s foot. This will occur at the base of a person’s little toe and will be referred to as a “tailor’s bunion” or a “bunionette.”

Referred to as Hallux Valgus in the medical community, definition bunions, are one of the most common problems that people have in their feet. This bump will actually be a bone that is protruding toward the inside of the foot. With the continued movement of the big toe towards the smaller toes, it is fairly common to find the big toe resting under or over the second toe on one’s foot. This will cause a common forefoot condition that is called overlapping toes. Some of the more common symptoms that come with bunions include swelling, inflammation, and soreness on the side surface of one’s big toe. The discomfort that is felt commonly causes a patient to walk improperly as well. A tailor’s bunion will form on the outside of one’s foot towards the joint at the little toe. It will be a smaller bump that forms due to the little toe’s moving inward toward the big toe.

The problem of bunions is most common among women. The deformity can develop from arthritis, or an abnormality in foot function, but it is most often caused by wearing improperly fitting footwear. Narrow, tight dress shoes with constricting areas especially in the toe area can cause a person’s foot to begin taking the shape of the shoe which leads to the formation of a bunion. A woman who has bunions will typically wear dress shoes that are too small for her feet. Her toes will be squeezed together in her shoes which will cause the first metatarsal bone to stick out on the side of her foot.

It is important for both women and men to realize that wearing boots and dress shoes, which are tapered in the toe are, can cause a bunion to become even worse to the point where corrective surgery will be necessary.

In the early stages of a bunion formation, soaking feet in warm water can provide some temporary relief. Though the best and most effective way to alleviate any pain associated with bunions is by wearing properly fitting shoes. For a person suffering from forefoot disorders such as bunions, shoes with wide toe areas are recommended. Also, shoes with “rocker soles” will unload pressure to the bunion area. Orthotics will also typically recommend for this condition to provide extra protection, support, and comfort.

Other conservative treatments will include using forefoot products that are designed to relieve and accommodate bunions. These include such things ad bunion night splints, bunion shields, and bunion bandages. There conservative treatments have the ability to limit the progression of bunion formation, relieve the foot of pain, and provide a healthy environment for the foot.