BUNIONS
HAMMERTOES

Bunions

Are you tired of living with that painful bunion? Are you having difficulty wearing your favorite shoes?

Bunions are due primarily to genetic factors, but can become painful over time due to trauma, ill-fitting shoes and poor foot structure.

A bunion is a bump on the base of the big toe joint. Bunions are caused when the bone at the joint moves and bends toward the other toes. The big toe may even overlap the others as this movement continues.

 Bunions can cause severe pain because this big toe joint carries much of the body’s weight. Bunions run in families because of an inherited foot type that includes poor foot mechanics. Wearing tight or narrow shoes can aggravate the bunion. Those with flat feet or low arches are prone to bunions, as are people with arthritis or inflammatory joint disease.

Symptoms

Bunion symptoms may include:

·         Callus or bump on the base of the big toe on the outside of the foot

·         Pain, swelling or redness

·         Callus development under the ball of the foot

·         Developing hammertoes

·         Irritated skin including corns where the first and second toes overlap

·         Painful and restricted big toe motion

Treating Bunions

To relieve the discomfort of a bunion, apply a bunion pad around the bump. Wear wide shoes with a deep toe box. Avoid shoes with heels more than 2 inches tall. You can apply ice packs often during the day to reduce the inflammation.

However, bunions will not go away – in fact, they will get larger and more painful without treatment. The earlier that podiatric treatment begins, the greater chance that your pain may be resolved without surgery.

Our goals are to relieve the pressure on the bunion and slow its progression. Padding and taping can relieve pain and keep the foot in a normal position. Cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory medication can ease symptoms.

Custom-fitted orthotics can relieve symptoms and prevent worsening of the deformity.  Physical therapy and ultrasound therapy can also relieve inflammation and pain.

For severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the joint and relieve pressure.

Goldsmith Podiatry can provide diagnosis and treatment options. Call today for a consultation with our Bunion Specialists.

Hammertoe Correction & Treatment

Sometimes a muscle imbalance causes a hammertoe, or a bending of the toe at the first joint. The bent toe looks like an upside-down “V”. The abnormal imbalance of muscles increases the pressure on the toe’s joints and tendons.

A flexible hammertoe is still moveable at the joint and can be treated, but a rigid hammertoe may become immobile.

Trauma such as from an injury can cause a hammertoe, as can heredity, arthritis, and wearing shoes that are too tight.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a hammertoe include:

     Pain at the top of the toe because of shoe pressure

·         Corns on top of the bend

·         Swelling and redness of the joint

·         Restricted motion of the joint

·         Pain extending to the ball of the foot at the base of the hammertoe

Treatment

You can relieve the discomfort of a hammertoe by padding the area to reduce friction. Switch to shoes with a deep, wide toe box and avoid high heels. Icing can help with inflammation.

But a hammertoe cannot be cured without professional help from a podiatrist.

To confirm our diagnosis, we will take an X-ray of the area. Treatment options include:

·         Padding and taping to minimize pain and relieve stress.

·         Anti-inflammatory medications and/or cortisone injections to reduce pain and inflammation.

·         Custom-fitted orthotics to reduce symptoms and prevent worsening of the deformity.

 There are several surgical options if necessary.

 Prevention

 You can prevent hammertoes from forming or getting worse. Wear supportive shoes and avoid those with pointed or narrow toe boxes. Orthotics can help prevent the development of hammertoes or slow their progression.