BUNIONS

A Bunion ( misaligned bones in the big toe) is one of the most common foot problems. More frequently seen in females, they can occur at age but frequently become noticeable in the 3rd & 4th decade.

A bunion is evident by the big toe drifting toward the 2nd toe. The big toe joint will

If the shoe is too tight, the joint will become irritated, red & painful. In later stages, the toe may actually go under or over the 2nd toe. If underlapping, the 2nd toe may become a hammertoe. Further changes can include a gradual stiffening of the joint as arthritis develops.

The cause of bunions can be complicated. The underlying cause is often incorrect foot mechanics. The foot may flatten too much, forcing the toe joint to move beyond normal range. Most people are not aware of this underlying cause & just see the bunion developing. Hereditary plays a role in that if a parent has had a bunion you may be more likely to also develop a bunion. Footwear is an important factor in that most footwear is tapered & does not match the shape of our natural foot. This will further cramp the toes & aggravate the bunion further. It also will irritate the prominent big to joint.

The saying goes you can't choose your relatives & unfortunately you can't choose the feet your born with. If there is a family history of bunions, they may be unavoidable. If your female, you may have even more troubles. That's the bad news. The good news is that there are things that will reduce the likelihood of developing them. This includes having a full assessment of your feet & walking by one of our Podiatrists. This can help identify any underlying problems that may lead to bunion development. Good supportive, well fitting footwear is very important. For females, it is particularly important to wear a variety of shoes & not just narrow, tapered footwear.

Treatment starts with prevention so if there is a family history of bunions, have an assessment of your feet & walking performed by one of our Podiatrist's. If a bunion is already evident, attempt to wear as broad footwear as possible. It doesn't mean you can't occasionally wear more dressy types of shoes but balance it with flatter, broader footwear.

Most products available from the chemist are of only short term benefit. Treating the symptoms is helpful, treating the underlying cause is even better. This may involve basic advice on footwear, use of custom orthotics to prevent the weight being placed excessively through the big toe joint & unfortunately at times, surgery.

Surgery is often the only option in correcting a bunion particularly if the joint is arthritic.

SELF TREATMENT

wear good, supportive footwear that fits the shape of your foot as best as possible

limit the wearing of high-heels to a minimum

use of padding to reduce the pressure over the top of the bunion

use of a wedge in-between the big & 2nd toes can provide some slight improvement in the position of the toe

PODIATRIC TREATMENT

assessment of the bunion to determine it's severity

assessment of the underlying cause which may include a biomechanical assessment & gait analysis & referral for x-rays

manufacture of various splints to provide partial improvement in position of the toe

footwear advice

use of varying supports & insoles to correct underlying causes

advice on appropriateness of surgery & referral to a Podiatric surgeon

Footmed has seen thousands of bunions. It can affect any age & be due to different causes. We aim to treat the cause & make you comfortable. Whether it be a change of footwear to surgery, we can provide you with the treatment & information to keep you walking.

Private health insurance generally covers a percentage of the cost of Podiatric consultations. Podiatric consultations are also covered under Workcover, 3rd Party Insurance & Veterans Affairs.

[THIS INFORMATION IS OF A GENERAL NATURE & SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS A DIAGNOSIS. SEEK ADVICE FROM A PODIATRIST FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE]