The joint at the base of your big toe bulges out. The skin is red and swollen. Your big toe bends inward abnormally. The shape of your foot has changed, it’s hard to walk, and it hurts like heck.

You have a bunion. Anyone can develop a bunion, but they’re more common in women. Tight-fitting shoes are often to blame. Squeezing toes into narrow spaces puts pressure on all of the bones of your toes. Similarly, wearing high heels puts more of your weight directly on your toes, causing pain and swelling.

While wearing narrow-toed or high-heeled shoes definitely makes a bunion worse, there are other risk factors. Bunions may run in your family. Your chances of developing a bunion increase if you have arthritis, gout, or flat feet. And, the truth is that if you’re older, you have a good chance of developing a bunion no matter what your family or medical history is. Older feet have put on a lot of miles, and those years of stress can manifest themselves in those aching, bony deformities.

How to Treat a Bunion

The podiatrists at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists advise home treatment for bunions that don’t interfere with everyday activities:

• Wear loose-fitting shoes that don’t put pressure on your big toe
• Take non-prescription pain relievers as needed
• Avoid activities that put pressure on the affected joint.

For bunions that compromise participation in your work or leisure activities, it’s not necessary to grin and bear it. Make an appointment with us for a full evaluation that may include

• X-rays to determine the full extent of the bone deformity
• Custom inserts in your shoes to relieve pressure
• A referral for surgery.

Seek Help Early

Simply living with a bunion may work for a little while, but it’s not a good strategy in the long run. Bunions affect the other bones of your foot and can lead to other problems with your toes, such as bursitis or hammertoe. So, if you suffer from the pain and swelling of bunions, call us today at (334) 396-3668. Our skilled podiatrists, Dr. Michael L. Rosenberg and Dr. Heidi M Christie, together with our knowledgeable staff, will be pleased to help you relieve your pain as soon as possible.