Bunions

Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates

Podiatry & Foot and Ankle Surgery located in Mission Viejo, CA

Bunions can be both unsightly and limiting, especially when they’re inflamed, which can make wearing your most comfortable shoes a painful affair. The doctors at Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates are bunion specialists and have been treating bunions for Mission Viejo and the surrounding community for over 30 years. There are several different procedures or treatments for bunions depending on the cause and severity of these bunions. Hence, evaluation by a podiatrist is important to determine what treatment is appropriate. The podiatry team at Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates routinely helps their patients find effective and long-term solutions for bunions. For experienced bunion care, call the office or schedule an appointment online today!

949-364-2525

Bunion Q&A

What are bunions?

Bunions, which are medically known as hallux valgus, are bony protrusions that form at the base of your big toe on the insides of your feet. Bunions are a progressive condition in which your bones shift, causing your big toe to drift toward your other toes, sometimes even traveling over or under your second toe.

Bunions can range in severity. They can cause considerable discomfort when they’re inflamed. They can limit your footwear choices and cause pain with activities quite considerably. Not to mention, many find the bony protrusion and repositioning of the big toe unsightly.

What causes bunions?

Structurally speaking, a bunion forms in your metatarsophalangeal joint, which is the joint that connects your metatarsal to your toe. When the tiny bones in this joint fall out of alignment, your metatarsal can begin to shift inward, and the great toe begins to shift toward the rest of your smaller toes. This results in a bony protrusion (aka the bunion) along with malialignment of your toes.

The reason this misalignment begins in the first place is typically due to several factors:

Structural abnormalities in your feet
Genetics
Pre-existing medical conditions (such as arthritis)
Poorly-fitting footwear (think pointy-toed shoes)

Since bunions are progressive, seeing a podiatrist at the first sign of a developing bunion is important.

How are bunions diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosing a bunion may seem obvious, as the visual evidence is fairly clear. But Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates relies on advanced imaging to assess the degree to which the bones at the base of your big toe have shifted to come up with the best treatment plan for your unique situation.

In most cases, the team treats bunions using the following conservative techniques:

A change in footwear
Orthotics
Padding
Anti-inflammatory medications

These measures are typically enough to halt or slow the progression of your bunion.

If your bunion is severe, your podiatrist may recommend a surgery called a bunionectomy to correct the positioning of your toe(s) and remove the bony protrusion.

If bunions are interfering with your life, call Aloha Foot and Ankle Associates or schedule an appointment online today!