What is a Bunion?
A Bunions are a deviation of the big toe, where the big toe joint shifts toward the middle of the foot. This can be accompanied with a bony growth that turns into a large lump. The term bunion is a very broad term that can refer to a number of conditions. The technical term is Hallux Abducto Valgus or HAV.
Research shows that bunions are extremely prevalent in Australia, affecting ? of the population. Over the age of 60, it’s suggested to be as high as 70%.
Sydney Bunion Clinic (Alternative foot solutions) offer gentle, hands on treatment for bunions without the need for surgery or orthotics to patients in Fairlight and surrounding areas.
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How do I know if I’m at risk of getting a bunion?
- Any one in my family has a bunion
- Pain in my big toe joint (sometimes this can be the last sign)
- A deviation of my big toe
- My big toe is getting closer to my second toe
- May see the big toe joint start to become enlarged or develop a bony growth
If you fall into any of these categories, then we strongly suggest getting your potential bunion assessed as often pain is the last symptom. The earlier bunions are treated the lower the likelihood that you will need surgery.
Bunions
A bunion commonly occurs at the 1st Mtpj and is a deviation of the big toe often with a bony formation on the side of the toe. Hallux abducto valgus is the technical term for a bunion.
Levels of Severity
Differences in bunions are closely linked to the actual severity of the joint misalignment. For example, a minor joint misalignment can just be a simple deviation of the two bones that make up the big toe. Aesthetically, the toe could appear crooked but doesn’t cause any pain or swelling, but the joint’s outward protrusion still forms a minor bunion.
What Causes a Bunion?
- Misalignment of your foot
- The way you stand and walk
- Weakness in the muscles of your foot
- Tight shoes
Adolescent Bunions
Adolescent bunions are most common in girls between 10 and 15 years old, but boys can also get them. The strongest factor in someone getting a bunion is genetic tendency that is inherited. These inherited traits are stronger on the female side but not always. These traits are the misalignment in the foot that causes compensation that then leads to a bunion.
We see bunions in juvenilles commonly at alternative foot solutions and would encourage that if your child appears to be getting a bunion or has a family history of bunions get it assessed ASAP. This will improve the likelyhood of sucessful conservative management.
The signs and symptoms of a bunion include:
- A deviation of my big toe
- My big toe is getting closer to my second toe
- May see the big toe joint start to become enlarged or develop a bony growth
- Any one in my family has a bunion
- Pain in my big toe joint (sometimes this can be the last sign)
- Harder to fit into shoes
If you fall into any of these categories, then we strongly suggest getting your potential bunion assessed as often pain is the last symptom. The earlier bunions are treated the lower the likelihood that you will need surgery.
Pain
Bunions tend to lead to pain and soreness at the big toe joint, the 1st MTPJ. Though persistent pain is one of the most common signs that a bunion requires treatment, pain itself isn’t always the best guide on what is happening with your bunion. In fact, a bunion can be 90% advanced before a person even feels any pain or discomfort at all. But as the condition progresses, the pain is often indicative of a more advanced issue. If a bunion is especially sore it may mean there is degenerative change or osteoarthritis.
Inflammation
Soft tissue swelling is common in and around the 1st MTPJ as the joint begins to protrude outward. The skin becomes inflamed and red, and the inflammation may persist for prolonged periods of time if the bunion goes untreated.
Bony Lump
When the big toe joint becomes misaligned, a noticeable bony lump will often form on the outside of the toe. The bony lump causes a more noticeably defined bump on the outside of the toe joint, and this is typically a sign of a more advanced condition.
Decreased Mobility
As the joint becomes mispositioned, you might also experience a loss of mobility in the affected toe. The loss of mobility could also be the result of persistent pain or pressure from swelling. It may also indicate degenerative change or even osteoarthritis through the joint.
Risks & Complications
Bunions can lead to several complications and increase your risk for developing more serious health issues, even beyond the foot itself.
Corns, Calluses & Blisters
The bunion can also cause the toe to rub against the toe next to it, leading to blisters or calluses where the two toes come in contact with each other (especially if the toes are overlapping). Sores may also form on the point of the bunion protrusion as it is more likely to rub against shoes and become irritated. Similar to calluses, corns are dead skin cells that become hardened like stones over time, leading to pain. Though corns and blisters are relatively minor and easily treatable issues, they will continue to persist without bunion correction treatment.
Bursitis
Bursitis is a painful condition that occurs when the small pads around the foot bones, called bursae, become inflamed. These fluid-filled sacs help protect bones and joints, and when they become swollen, it can also damage the cartilage around the joint. This can then potentially lead to arthritis because it indicates that the joints are under constant pressure.
Metatarsalgia
As bunions become swollen, it can affect the soles of your feet and lead to a condition known as Metatarsalgia. Metatarsalgia is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot, and it is more common in individuals who frequently run and/or jump. This condition is sometimes caused by a change in the way a person moves and/or supports their weight with different parts of the foot, typically because of the bunion pain itself.
Hammertoes & Mallet Toes
Hammertoe, also referred to as mallet toe, is when any toe becomes bent abnormally at the middle joint, causing the muscles and tendons to become pushed out of position. This can occur when any of the smaller digits bend downward, clawing the ground when a person walks. This occurs due to instability in the foot related to foot misalignment. Hammertoes can form in the toe next to the big toe bunion, but it can also form in any of the smaller toes as bunions might change the way a person walks in response to the pain they are experiencing.
We see bunions in juvenilles commonly at alternative foot solutions and would encourage that if your child appears to be getting a bunion or has a family history of bunions get it assessed ASAP. This will improve the likelyhood of sucessful conservative management.
Osteoarthritis
People with more severe bunion cases are at a higher risk to develop osteoarthritis, which is degenerative disease results from the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. When bunions are present, the arthritis is onset by the wear and tear of the affected joints due to poor movement through the joint. Typical osteoarthritis symptoms include joint stiffness, pain, decreased range of motion and swelling.
We see bunions in juvenilles commonly at alternative foot solutions and would encourage that if your child appears to be getting a bunion or has a family history of bunions get it assessed ASAP. This will improve the likelyhood of sucessful conservative management.
Diagnoses and Potential Management of a Bunion
- Book an assessment
- Allow us to assess your Bunion and diagnose the underlying cause
- We may then send for a weight bearing x ray to measure the level of deviation of the bunion
- Come up with a plan to treat your bunion
- Carry out the plan together and help you avoid bunion surgery
Diagnosis
Most doctors or foot specialists can tell if you have a bunion just by looking at your big toe in an initial foot assessment. After the careful examination, a weight-bearing x-ray is needed to determine the severity of the bunion, its angle, and whether or not the joint is damaged. The x-ray can even help the doctor or foot specialist uncover what might have caused the issue, which can help them decide the type of bunion treatment options to recommend.
Once the bunion is treated, the foot is x-rayed again to see how the toe has responded to the treatment. The x-rays help to show how the toe positioning has shifted by providing a side-by-side comparison opportunity of the foot bone structures before and after.
Video on when you should have your bunions checked.
Video case study on a successful bunion treated and before and after xrays.
New Patient Bunion Assessment
Only $25* Usually $100
*Fully Claimable on your private health insurance