Nail Fungus Specialist Merrick

A bunion is a painful, bony bump that develops on the joint at the base of your big toe. Bunions occur if one or more bones in the front portion of your foot become misaligned, causing your big toe to pull forward and put pressure on your smaller toes. Ultimately, this causes the joint at the bottom of your big toe to push outward, leading to stiffness, swelling, and redness.

Bunions develop for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they’re the result of wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes with a small toe box. Other times, they occur as a result of a foot deformity or a chronic medical condition such as osteoarthritis.

The symptoms associated with bunions depend on their size, location, and the underlying cause. However, telltale signs include:

• A bony growth at the base of your big toe
• Swelling or stiffness around your big toe
• Corns
• Calluses
• Pain that comes and goes

As a bunion progresses, you might also have difficulty finding a pair of shoes that fit comfortably over the bunion, or you might develop hammertoe.

To diagnose bunions, Dr. Stepensky at Fit Feet Podiatry physically examines your foot, asks you questions about the symptoms you’re experiencing, and takes a series of orthopedic X-rays. He might also ask you to stand up, sit down, and walk around the exam room so he can monitor your gait and posture.

Whenever possible, Dr. Stepensky uses conservative, integrative treatments to relieve bunion pain. If your bunion isn’t interfering with your mobility, he might recommend wearing a different pair of shoes with a wider toe box and additional padding. On the other hand, if your bunion causes you pain, custom orthotics or cortisone injections might be necessary.

If your pain persists for months at a time with little or no relief even after conservative measures of care, surgical intervention may be necessary. Dr. Stepensky offers minimally invasive bunionectomy procedures using arthroscopy and endoscopy to relieve swelling, ease pain, and improve your mobility.

If bunions are preventing you from participating in your favorite activities, make an appointment at Fit Feet Podiatry today–call the office or click the online booking tool to begin.