Bunions / Big Toe Joint Pain
What are they?
Bunions are big toe deformities that are commonly seen by Podiatrists. They are often seen as a bony lump near the base of the big toe joint and deviation of the big toe towards the second toe. This can eventually lead to painful osteoarthritis within the joint.
The first toe joint plays an extremely important role in how we function during walking and running, and changes to this joint can reflect further than the foot itself (e.g. knee and hip pain).
How Does it Happen?
Bunions can be caused from a number of factors. These include:
- Tight fitting and high-heeled footwear
- Unstable foot mechanics and faulty foot structure
- Genetic predisposition
- Inflammatory (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), neuromuscular (e.g. Charcot-Marie-Tooth) and connective tissue (e.g. Ehlers Danlos syndrome) disorders
What should you do if you have a bunion or big toe joint pain?
You should seek help from your podiatrist who can help diagnose and develop an appropriate treatment plan. If untreated bunion deformities can worsen and lead to other joints and toes of the feet being damaged.
Management
An early conservative management is important, all depending on the individual and stage of the deformity. Re-aligning the foot with the aid of an orthotic can prevent further degeneration and pain. Along with this, a change of footwear may help decrease the pressure and compliment the orthotics. Foot mobilisation therapy and specific exercises are also often prescribed to improve joint function. Surgical correction of the bunion is another option but should only be considered if the conservative measures have failed.
Location
56 Zahel St, Carina QLD 4152
