Foot Bunions
There’s no doubt about it, foot bunions are painful. Referred to in the medical community as Hallux Valgus foot bunions are the most common problem podiatrists see. A foot bunion is really an unsightly bony bump on the inside of the foot near the base of the greater toe joint. The bump is caused as the big toe bends unnaturally sideways toward the second toe and the tendons, joint and muscle is pressured out of position.
There is one other type of condition sometimes called foot bunions that’s actually a Tailor’s Bunion or Bunionette. This type of bump forms on the outside joint of the foot towards the little toe as it moves inward toward the big toe. This condition isn’t seen as frequently as the greater toe foot bunion.
Bunions occur due to either heredity, improper footwear both. Tight shoes, especially those that become narrow toward the toes and have a pronounced heel can be a big cause of foot bunions. It’s no wonder that women following the fashion trend of high heels and ‘squished’ up toes are the most common patients a podiatrist has in his office.
When the foot bunion is in its early stages there several home remedies that provide relief. Soaking the foot in hot water will often help for short periods of time. Wearing a comfortable shoe with wide toes of course will help not only with the pain, but also to accommodate appliances to treat and correct the foot bunions. A doctor can also recommend and sometimes even prescribe shoes specially made and fitted to correct the foot bunions.
There are many different kinds of foot bunion correction products designed to minimize pain and correct the big toe from bending any further. Splints, bunion shields, night splints, and braces all work to protect the area around the foot bunions.
A doctor might decide that an operation is necessary to correct stubborn foot bunions. If this is the case most such surgeries can be performed either in a doctor’s office or in just a few hours at a hospital. Recovery time might be a few days with the foot being rested as much as possible.