Bunions affect nearly 36 percent of Americans 65 and older, reports MedicineNet. However, people of all ages can acquire this foot deformity through a variety of factors. At Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley, LTD., your foot doctor, Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski, understands the reasons behind bunions and how you can prevent them or lessen their severity. Would you like to know more?

What a bunion is and does

A bunion, or Hallux valgus, is an acquired podiatric problem which changes the shape and position of the big toe and the metatarsophalangeal joint at its base. Due to inherited foot structure, obesity, tight, narrow shoes and gait problems, the characteristic bony bump forms at the side of the foot.

Progressive in nature, a bunion causes:

• A gradual inward turn of the big toe toward the second toe
• Pain when ambulating
• Swelling of the foot
• Corn and callus formation in areas where the foot rubs against the shoe
• Bursitis, arthritis and limited range of motion in the affected toe

Unfortunately, more women than men develop bunions, states the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), typically due to wearing shoes which have narrow toe boxes and high heels.

Preventing bunions

To avoid the discomforts associated with bunions, you should consider these prevention strategies, particularly if you see your relatives struggling with Hallux valgus. While you may not prevent their formation altogether, you can lessen their size and impact by:

• Choosing and consistently wearing well-fitting shoes with low heels, room enough in the toe boxes so you can wiggle your toes, and good arch supports
• Getting your feet measured for new shoes in the evening when your feet are largest
• Resting, elevating and icing your feet when they hurt or swell
• Keeping a healthy body weight
• Wearing shoe orthotics if your Naperville, IL, foot doctor says you have a gait problem, such as overpronation

Treating bunions

With the above precautions in place, you may not develop bunions, or you may stave off their formation until your elder years. If you perceive signs that you are developing a bunion, arrange a consultation with Dr. Jagodzkinski right away.

Your foot doctor will examine and X-ray your foot and suggest ways to lessen your symptoms. Often, shoe padding and orthotics worn inside the shoe help with pain, friction and improper gait. Also, she may suggest over the counter pain medications as needed. Usually, bunionectomy, or surgical removal of the bunion, is a fallback option when more conservative measures prove ineffective and your quality of life has diminished significantly.

Learn more

At Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley, LTD., your experienced foot doctor is Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski. She helps many people with bunions stay active. For an appointment in her Naperville, IL, office, phone today at (630) 778-7670.