Bunions are lumps that develop gradually on the inner side of the big toe bone joint. This condition begins with a shift in the angle of the big toe bone towards the index toe. Then, over the course of a few years, these changes will result in the appearance of a lump that becomes more pronounced.
Bunions not only change the bone structure of the foot, but also cause discomfort, pain, and give the feet a red mark. The lump that comes out on the side of the thumb will also make it difficult for sufferers to wear shoes.
Causes of Bunions
Bunions are suspected to be genetically inherited. In addition to genetic factors, several forms of foot structural abnormalities can trigger bunions, including bone structural abnormalities, flat feet (flat foot), or connective tissue between bones (ligaments) that are too flexible. In addition, a history of foot injury is also at risk of causing bunions.
Some other factors that can trigger bunions are:
- Suffer rheumatoid arthritis.
- Often wear shoes that are too narrow, so that the toes squeeze and press the big toe.
- Wearing high heels also puts pressure on the toes that are squeezed too tightly against the front of the shoe, resulting in deformities in the angle of the bones of the foot.
- Often standing for long periods of time.
Symptoms of Bunions
Bunions can occur without the appearance of early symptoms. However, it can also be characterized by the appearance of pain or tenderness, redness, swelling, and thickening of the skin around the big toe.
Symptoms of bunions include:
- A lump on the big toe, which causes the thumb to be difficult to move and painful.
- The pain is getting worse when wearing shoes. This condition will cause bunion sufferers to be reluctant to wear shoes to avoid pain.
- The position of the big toe that looks tilted and leads to the index finger. This condition also makes the thumb can make a crossed position, and touch the top or bottom of the index finger of the foot.
Bunion Diagnosis
In many cases, the doctor will diagnose bunion patients through a physical examination, namely by looking directly at the symptoms or signs that form on the patient's feet. During a physical examination, the doctor will ask the patient to move the big toe forward (straightened) and backward (bend) to monitor the limitation of finger movement experienced.
Doctors can ask patients to undergo X-ray examinations if they are suspected of having abnormalities in the shape of the bones or if they have experienced injuries to the legs.
In addition, the doctor can also make a diagnosis by running a blood test to confirm whether the bunion is caused by joint inflammation or not.
Bunion Treatment
Treatment for bunions will depend on their severity. To relieve excessive pressure and pain in the feet, non-surgical or conservative treatment can be done, in the form of:
- Administration of drugs to treat pain, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, or naproxen.
- Compress the big toe with ice water. An ice pack can help relieve swelling and inflammation of the thumb.
- The use of various medical aids on the foot, which can be in the form of pads, plasters/bandages, or splints, to restore the position and angle of the thumb joint, and reduce pressure and pain caused.
However, if the above treatments are not able to overcome or reduce the symptoms of bunions, then the last action is through a surgical procedure.
The steps for bunion surgery consist of:
- A surgical procedure to remove or remove tissue around the big toe that is the source of inflammation.
- Straighten the position of the thumb by removing certain parts of the bone.
- Rearrange the leg bones that extend from the back of the foot to the thumb, as well as normalize the problematic angle of the thumb bone
- The process of bringing the bones together in an inflamed joint.
Bunion Complications
Although rare, bunions are at risk for complications, such as:
- Bursitis, which is a condition that occurs due to inflammation of the cushion around the joint (called the bursa).
- Metatarsalgia, which is painful inflammation of the forefoot.
- Hammertoe, namely abnormalities in the joints of the middle toe (usually the index finger) that bends, causing pressure and pain.
Bunion Prevention
To avoid bunions, wear shoes that fit your foot size. Choose a shoe model that provides enough space for your toes, both in length and width. In addition, the material and shape of the shoes should also not put pressure on the soles of the feet.