A Bunion is a bony bump that forms where your big toe meets the rest of the foot. This location is called the metatarsophalangeal joint, also known as an MTP joint. This common condition develops over time and has a number of causes ranging from minor things such as poorly fitting shoes to more significant factors like rheumatoid arthritis.
Bunions aren’t always below the big toe though. Have you ever heard of the “tailor’s bunion”? Tailors were once known to sit cross-legged while working, which puts pressure on the fifth MTP joint- the one that resides below the pinky toe. This pressure causes a mini-bunion on the opposite side of the foot, called a bunionette. Bunionettes can typically be treated without surgery, generally with medication, shoe padding, or orthotic devices. Bunions are more complex.
The most noticeable symptom of a bunion is the bulging of the MTP joint, sometimes accompanied by redness, stiffness, swelling, calluses between toes, and joint pain, depending on how far the bunion has progressed without treatment. It can also make it difficult and painful to move your toes. Without treatment, bunions continue to grow as time goes on. This can cause your big toe to turn inward, sometimes even pushing or overlapping the neighboring toes.
Causes
- Sometimes, bunions are caused by hereditary traits regarding the natural shape of a person’s foot. Flat feet are particularly prone to this condition.
- Both inflammatory and degenerative types of arthritis cause the deterioration of protective cartilage around the MTP joints, which increases vulnerability.
- The way the bones in the feet tend to turn (or “pronate”) while walking or running, also affects the likelihood of developing bunions. Overpronating feet rotate too much, which can lead to knee injuries as well as bunions.
- Excessively wearing high heels, shoes that don’t fit properly, or have pointed tips cause cramping of the toes and pressure on the outer MTP joints.
- This may explain why women are statistically more likely to get bunions than men, but there is no definitive answer to this phenomena yet.
- Foot injuries affecting the big and little toe negatively impact the MTP joints, and can also cause pre-existing bunions to worsen.
Can I “Just Leave It”?
In short, no; you definitely need the help of a foot and ankle specialist. Any good foot doctor can tell you that bunions do not go away on their own- they have to be removed. Left untreated, they can cause even further complications such as arthritis, extreme chronic pain, Crossover Toe (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like), inability to wear certain shoes, altered balance, difficulty walking, and permanent physical deformities. Some of the most common conditions that are long-term consequences of neglecting a bunion include:
- Bursitis, which is when the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the MTP joint become inflamed and sometimes even rupture.
- Metatarsalgia, which is defined as the inflammation of bones in the balls of the feet.
- Infections from popped blisters and calluses.
- Hammertoe, as the name suggests, is a physical abnormality causing your toe to bend into a shape akin to a hammer.
Frankel Fast-Step Bunion Procedure
Many patients are hesitant to undergo surgery, and understandably so. Traditional open-bunion surgery is done with two large incisions that are usually about six inches in length in order to access the bone which is then either cut, broken, or realigned. Typically, this procedure takes an entire year to fully recover from, consisting of a minimum of six months for the bone to heal and six more months for the pain to fully subside. Most patients can’t even walk properly afterward on the day of treatment. This grisly alternative leaves people worried about missing work as well as extreme discomfort.
Thankfully, something called minimally invasive surgery exists, which only requires three tiny incisions, each less than a quarter inch, leading to a significantly faster and less painful recovery.
The Frankel Fast-Step Bunion procedure incorporates 3-D restoration of bones to their correct anatomic position, which results in improved posture as well. The procedure is minimally invasive and will leave you toe-tally scarless. Dr. Frankel typically performs the procedure at a same-day surgery center where you will receive personalized care. After surgery, most patients can put full weight on the foot. In fact, patients can return to work much sooner than those who undergo traditional bunion surgeries.
Whether you’re a new patient or a frequent flyer, contact us to schedule a consultation with an experienced podiatrist at our foot and ankle clinic. We’ll have you back on your feet in no time- literally.
