One in three Americans have bunions––painful bumps that form on the outside edge of the big toe. If you have a bunion and it affects your mobility or quality of life, it’s vital to seek treatment. At Greenwood Foot Clinic, board-certified podiatrist and foot surgeon Mark Lazar, DPM, and podiatrist and foot surgeon Stephen Tentler, DPM, and the team, provide minimally invasive treatments and surgery for bunions. To make an appointment, call the office in Greenwood or Martinsville, Indiana, or book online today.
A bunion is a swollen bump that occurs on the outside edge of your big toe joint. Bunions form when the bones at the front of your foot change position due to structural abnormalities or general wear-and-tear. Those changes cause your big toe joint to bulge outward, resulting in pain, redness, and sensitivity.
Symptoms of a bunion include:
As the bunion grows, you might also experience numbness or tingling in your big toe.
Make an appointment with the team at Greenwood Foot Clinic if you have a bunion and it doesn’t respond to at-home treatments, like ice, bunion pads, or wearing roomier shoes. You might also make an appointment if your symptoms affect your ability to work or do other activities that you love.
Several factors may increase your risk of a bunion, including:
You’re also more likely to experience a bunion if you have an inflammatory condition, like arthritis.
The team at Greenwood Foot Clinic diagnoses a bunion during an in-office visit.
Your provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including how severe the pain is on a scale of 1-10 and if it’s worse when you wear certain types of shoes. Next, your provider examines your foot and big toe, looking for swelling, redness, or bruising.
Your provider gently moves your toe back and forth, checking its flexibility and range of motion. Then, they order X-rays or a CT scan to assess the alignment of the bones at the front of your foot.
Treatment of a bunion depends on several factors, including its size, the severity of your symptoms, and their effect on your daily life. The team at Greenwood Foot Clinic might recommend:
If conservative treatments don’t provide lasting relief, or your bunion affects your ability to work or exercise, surgery might be necessary. During bunion surgery, your provider uses special tools to remove the bunion and realign the bones at the front of your foot.
To explore the treatment options for a bunion, make an appointment at Greenwood Foot Clinic by calling the nearest office or booking online today.