Bunion
Description and General Information about Bunion
Bones and joints are the two major components of the body that facilitates the easy movements and helps us in performing our normal activities. It is due the bones and joints that our body maintains strength and reflexes and gets structure. At times a bone or a joint may develop an abnormality. This could restrict or paralyze our body movements. This abnormality of bone or joint may be due overuse, injury or result of complication produced by diseases associated with bones such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Bunion is one of such medical condition caused by losing of its original position by joint.
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Bunion is referred to as Hallux Valgus in medical terminology. When the foot bone- which joins big toe - moves towards the center of body such condition is termed as occurrence of bunion.
This movement of the big toe towards center of body leads to occurrence of bony prominence on side of foot.
Women are more likely to bunion condition when compared to men. This is so because women are considered to be wearing tight fitting foot wear, comparatively more tight than worn by men. This is why bunion is more common in women.
Wearing appropriate foot wears is best way of preventing and treating bunion condition. Usually, bunion condition is treated with medication. However, in some cases one may have to undergo surgery. Fortunately, such cases are rare.
Causes responsible for occurrence of Bunion
Wearing of poorly fitting shoes is considered as major cause behind development of bunion. A person with family history of bunion is on higher risk of developing bunion. Following are some of the other common causes which can contribute towards development of bunion.
- Complications produced by diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Recent trauma or injury sustained by the feet
- Weakness of foot ligaments
Symptoms of Bunion development
Though the sufferer may have varying symptoms, following are some of the most common symptoms that give warning about development of bunion condition.
- Redness of area surrounding big toe joint
- Swelling in the joint of big toe
- Difficulty in walking
- Pain in the inner foot margin
- Difficulty or pain while wearing tight foot wear
- Inability to wear your normal size shoes
- Development of hammer toe
Prevention of Bunions
There are certain methods that could help you in preventing occurrences of bunions. Wearing properly fitting shoes is the best and easiest way of preventing bunions. Properly fitting shoes means shoes that provide comfort and shoes that keep tips of the smaller toes in level with one another, when resting toes on shoe insole.
Treatment of Bunions
Different types of remedies are available for treating bunions. Pain killers like Ibuprofen are used as medication for relieving pain and reducing inflammation. Change over to most properly fitting footwear is part of treatment. Some medical devices like bunion night splints and bunion pads are used for reducing size of bunions. Usually bunions heal with medications. However, in certain cases surgery may be required.
