FAQs About Bunions

If you have been diagnosed with a bunion, you probably have many questions. We have answers. Below are the most common questions we receive about bunions. Dr. Supreet Ghuman from Prairie Foot & Ankle treats bunions frequently. He can help guide you on the best treatment strategy for your bunion in Elgin, IL & Chicago, IL.

What are bunions?

A bunion is a deformity of the foot where the joint of the big toe joint becomes dislocated. This leads to a protrusion on the inside of your foot at the junction where the big toe and the rest of the foot.

What causes bunions?

Due to years of stress placed on the foot, the big toe is displaced inwards towards the other toes. The causes of bunions are from this abnormal stress, generally as a result of poor foot mechanics or misshapen feet. Ill-fitting shoes can lead to the progression of a bunion but are not the cause of it developing initially. In some cases, a bunion has significantly progressed in severity to the point that the big toe is displaced so much it lays on top of the second toe. This condition is known as crossover toe.

What are some signs and symptoms of a bunion?

A bunion is easily diagnosed because of the physical deformity of the foot, the bony protrusion that is often on the inside of your foot. But, other symptoms can show up. These are:

• Corns and callouses
• Pain when attempting to straighten the toe
• Inability to wear shoes that you are used to
• Numbness in the big toe

How are bunions treated?

Surgery to eliminate the bunion is the most common treatment strategy. This surgery is called a bunionectomy.  This procedure will remove the bunion and correct the anatomy of the foot. This will almost always be suggested in severe cases. However, there are many things that you and your podiatrist can do to manage bunions non-surgically.

Is there anything I can do to manage my bunion without surgery?

These interventions may stop or slow down the progression of your bunion. Our podiatrist can guide you in managing your bunion in Elgin, IL & Chicago, IL. Some conservative recommendations are:

• Make sure your shoes fit well and are roomy in the toe area. 
• Shop for new shoes in the evening. Our feet are slightly swollen in the later hours of the day. 
• Measure the size of your foot each time you buy new shoes. Your feet flatten with age and you may need to buy a larger-sized shoe.
• Maintaining a healthy weight to avoid excess stress on the foot.
• Custom orthotics 
• Pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs, both prescription and over the counter

When the above conservative measures have been tried and failed, surgery will be recommended, 

Contact us

Take the first step towards treating your bunion in Elgin, IL & Chicago, IL with Dr. Ghuman from Prairie Foot & Ankle. Call for an appointment at (224) 227-6973.