Our feet take a beating, whether we're squeezing them into narrow high-heeled shoes or merely walking long distances. But we don't give them much thought until wear and tear take their toll. One of the most common foot problems is a bunion, a large bony bump that appears on the side of the big toe. Before you talk about it with your doctor, we'll walk you through some facts.
1. Improper footwear is one of the main causes of bunions.
Shoes that are tight, narrow or have pointy toes, all of which constrict the feet, or shoes with high heels are the footwear culprits, says Dr. Mark Glazebrook, an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Dalhousie University in Halifax. In addition to poor footwear, genetics is a common cause of bunions: people can inherit foot shapes that make them more likely to develop bunions, and wearing ill-fitting shoes can make the deformity worse. Because of the footwear factor, women tend to be more prone to developing bunions than men.
2. Many bunions are painful.
Pain from a bunion, which can range from mild to severe, "is most often associated with underlying arthritis or the degree of deformity," says Glazebrook, who adds that improper footwear will often intensify the pain. Small painful bunions, called bunionettes, can also appear at the base of the little toes. If you have a visible bump, persistent pain or limited movement in your big toe, see your doctor. The earlier you start treating a bunion, the lower your risk of developing serious joint deformities.
3. Another symptom is the angling of your big toe in toward your second toe.
The pressure from your big toe may also force your second toe out of alignment, sometimes causing it to overlap your third toe. You can develop a bunion at any age, from childhood on. Bunions are permanent and, left untreated, will usually get worse over time. A bunion can, however, remain a bony bump that never progresses into a deformity.
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