The bunion is a common big toe deformity that is easily identifiable from the bony bump that forms on the top or side of the big toe joint. As the bunion matures, the big toe is bent into the other toes with a lot of force causing rubbing, blisters, and even underlapping and overlapping toes. You inherit the tendency to develop bunions from your parents, but pressure from your footwear can increase this tendency.
Wearing tightly-fitting shoes or pumps that cramp your toes together in the front of the shoe will accelerate the formation of bunions and other toe deformities like hammertoes. People who have flat feet and arthritis are also more susceptible to getting bunions.
3 relatively simple treatments for bunions include the following:
Wear properly-fitted shoes with a wide toe box—The pressure and rubbing from poorly fitting shoes contribute to bunion severity and also cause blisters and corns to develop. Wearing properly-fitted shoes with a wide toe box will allow the bunion room to move without the extra friction.
Physical therapy exercises—Many types of stretching and strengthening exercises are appropriate to help keep the toe joints flexible. Two of these are toe scrunching exercises and picking up small objects with your toes.
Braces and orthotic inserts—A splint that pulls the big toe away from the other toes can be worn during sleep to help move it into a straighter position. Your foot doctor can create custom orthotic shoe inserts that work to straighten your toes and keep them apart.
If your bunions continue to become more painful, surgery may be necessary. For the proper treatment of bunions, consult with the foot doctors at Foot and Ankle Center of Fort Lee, LLC. Our team of board-certified podiatrists includes Greg Khaimov, DPM, FACFAS, Daniel Pollack, DPM, FACFAS, Walter Majdanski, DPM, AACFAS, Yakov Haimof, DPM, Mathew Yagudayev, DPM, AACFAS, and Kevin Jeong, DPM. The center offers convenient locations in Fort Lee NJ, Ringwood NJ, Flushing Queens NY, Woodhaven NY, Brooklyn NY, and Forest Hills NY. Contact us at (201) 363-9844 and schedule an appointment today!
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