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Bunions [BUN-yuns] are hard bumps that form on the foot, most of the time on the joint near the base of the big toe, But also on the base of the little toe. Bunions happen when the big or little toe is pushed into the other toes, which forces the joint at the base of the toe to pop out to the side and get bigger.
If the toes keep getting pushed together, the joint at the base of the toe can start to stick out even more, forming the bunion. Sometimes, the bunion can rub against the inside of your shoes, causing the skin on the outside of the bunion to get sore and red.
The most prominent symptom of a bunion is a hard, bony bump on the outside of the foot, especially near the base of the big toe and little toe. If you have a bunion, you might be able to see it when you look at your feet. Other bunion symptoms include:
There are a few causes for bunions, such as:
Your doctor will perform a physical exam to help diagnose a bunion. During this exam, your doctor may press on your foot and/or toes, or ask you to move your foot and toes to check your range of movement.
If your doctor thinks that you do have a bunion, they may order an x-ray which will take pictures of the bones in your feet. These pictures can help your doctor figure out the cause of the bunion and how severe it is.Most of the time, bunions do not need any medical treatment. Your doctor can help you with some symptoms, such as pain or decreased movement, or may refer you to see a doctor that specializes in feet, called a podiatrist [po-DIE-uh-trist].
Some treatments that your doctor, or a podiatrist, may recommend include:
If your bunion doesn’t go away, is causing you a lot of pain, and is making it hard to move your feet, your doctor might recommend surgery. Surgery for bunions can: