Bunion

Bunions are a common foot condition affecting one in three Americans. At Capital Foot & Ankle, comprehensive bunion care is available so that you can find fast, long-lasting relief from pain and other symptoms. The experienced podiatrists provide nonsurgical therapies and minimally invasive surgeries to correct toe joint deformities. They also offer custom-fitted orthotics and other services to support your foot and ankle health. Call the office in Roseville, Folsom, or Sacramento, California, today to schedule a bunion consultation, or book your appointment online.

What is a bunion?

A bunion is a bony bump that develops on the joint at the base of your big toe. These painful bumps can form if you wear tight shoes like high heels that crowd your toes. You can also be prone to bunions due to genetics or a series of minor foot injuries.

Bunions tend to develop gradually and can eventually force your big toe sideways toward the other toes. This shift moves bones, ligaments, and tendons out of their normal position, leading to a deformity.

Capital Foot & Ankle offers diagnostic evaluations and customized treatment to correct bunions. The team can also recommend strategies you can use to prevent bunions and other foot deformities.

When should I seek medical care for a bunion?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Capital Foot & Ankle if you have symptoms of a bunion:

• Bulging bump on the big toe joint
• Redness or swelling
• Calluses or corns
• Persistent toe joint pain
• Limited flexibility in the big toe

The earlier you seek treatment for bunions, the more effective it will be. When left untreated, a bunion can require surgery to repair.

During your evaluation, the podiatry team examines your toe joint. The team might also order X-rays or other diagnostic imaging to determine how severe your condition is.

How is a bunion treated?

In the early stages, the Capital Foot & Ankle team usually recommends nonsurgical treatment to relieve bunion pain and prevent joint deformity. Treatments can include:

• Bunion pads
• Ice therapy
• Pain relievers
• Anti-inflammatories
• Shoe inserts or other custom-fitted orthotics

You should choose shoes that fit well and are wide enough to prevent toe crowding.

If nonsurgical treatment doesn’t work or you already have a joint deformity, the podiatry team will discuss surgery. The team uses minimally invasive techniques to remove inflamed tissue from around your toe joint and reposition the bones to straighten your toe.

In some cases, the surgeons will fuse two or more of your bones together to limit movements in your big toe, preventing additional complications.

Call the Capital Foot & Ankle office nearest you today to schedule a bunion evaluation, or book your consultation online.