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Most people think of a bunion as a bump on the side of the big toe. The bump, however, is just the visible symptom of a change in the bony framework of the front of the foot. When a bunion forms, it is because the big toe leans toward the second toe instead of pointing straight ahead. This throws the bones out of alignment and causes the "bump".

Some people are born with a faulty mechanical structure of the foot. A bunion is not inherited, but the the susceptibility to developing one is. Bunions are a progressive disorder that begin with a leaning of the big toe that gradually gets more and more pronounced. High heels and shoes with tight toe boxes can accelerate formation of bunions. This is probably why women are more likely to have symptoms than men. Spending long times on your feet can also aggravate the symptoms.

Symptoms to look for at the site of a bunion include pain or soreness, inflammation and redness, a burning sensation, or numbness. Other conditions that can occur in conjunction with bunions are calluses on the big toe, sores between the toes, ingrown toenails, and a restricted motion of the toe.

It's pretty obvious when you have a bunion, but to fully evaluate the situation, it is necessary for your podiatric foot and ankle surgeon to take x-rays and assess the structural changes that have taken place in your foot. Once the situation has been evaluated, your doctor can chart a treatment plan.

Because bunions are progressive, they won't go away, and will usually get worse over time. Sometimes, however, the best course of action initially is simply to observe the bunion and take steps to ease any pain. These steps can include changing shoe types, padding, activity modifications, medications, icing, treatment with steroids, and/or orthotic devices.

The treatments above won't reverse the deformity, though. If the pain of the bunion gets to the point that it interferes with daily activities, it may be time to discuss surgical options with your foot doctor. Surgery on bunions is common, advanced, and has a very high success rate.

Tailor's Bunions

Tailor's bunions, also called "bunionettes", are very similar to regular bunions in causes,symptoms, and treatments. The only difference is they occur on the outside of the foot at the base of the little toe. They are not as common as bunions.

The name "tailor"s bunion" was coined centuries ago, when tailors sat cross-leeged all day with the outside edge of their feet rubbing on the ground. This constant rubbing led to a painful bump at the base of the little toe.