If you have a bump on the side of your big toe, you may have something called a bunion. Caused by unnatural pressure on the MTP or metatarsophalangeal joint on the big toe, a bunion can be very painful.

Symptoms of a bunion include:

Bump on the side of your big toe
Soreness or redness around the big toe
Stiffness of the big toe
Development of corns or calluses where your toes overlap

There are several reasons why you may have developed a bunion including poorly fitting shoes, high heels, foot deformities, arthritis and an injury. Bunions won’t go away on their own and will most likely need to be removed. If not treated properly, you can develop other conditions including bursitis, hammertoe and metatarsalgia.

How do you treat a bunion? First, see your podiatrist who will diagnose you and take an x-ray of the affected area. Once determined as a bunion, your podiatrist can suggest a variety of treatments, the most conservative first, including:

Changing to more comfortable and supportive footwear
Using over the counter bunion pads
Anti-inflammatory, anti-pain medicine
Cortisone shots – steroid treatment for swelling and pain relief
Orthotics
Ice

If these do not help, then surgery will likely be needed to:

Remove swollen tissue around the big toe
Straighten the toe
Connecting the bones in the big toe

It will be important to talk to your podiatrist after surgery to make sure you are wearing the proper fitting footwear otherwise you run the risk of a bunion returning. Make another appointment and keep and eye on your feet for any changes.

If you believe you have any of the above injuries or have any other concerns about your feet, make an appointment with Dr. Anant Joshi of Advanced Footcare of NJ LLC . Call us at (973) 256-0002. We are located at 1031 McBride Avenue, Suite D-105, Woodland Park, NJ, 07424. You can also contact us at our email advancedfootcare1031@outlook .com.