Overview
A bunion forms when your big toe points toward the second toe. This causes a bump to appear on the inside edge of your toe.
Causes
Apart from being often heriditary, bunions are usually a result of faulty foot mechanics - in particular excess pronation (rolling inwards of the foot). Also, wearing footwear that is too tight whereby the toes are squeezed together may be a contributing factor.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of foot bunions are Toe Position: the toe points inwards towards the other toes in the foot into the hallux adbucto valgus position and may even cross over the next toe, Bony Lump: swelling on the outer side of the base of the toe which protrudes outwards, Redness: over the bony lump where it becomes inflamed, Hard Skin: over the bony lump known as a callus, Pain: it is often painful around the big toe, made worse by pressure on the toe and weight bearing activities, Change in Foot Shape: Your whole foot may gradually change shape for example getting wider, Stiffness: the big toe often becomes stiff and may develop arthritis Foot Bunion progression scale, Foot bunions are more common with increasing age. They develop gradually overtime from repeated force through the big toe and left untreated, become more pronounced with worsening symptoms.
Treatment
Early treatment of bunions is centered on providing symptomatic relief. Switching to a shoe with a rounder, deeper toe box and made of a softer more pliable leather will often provide immediate relief. The use of pads and cushions to reduce the pressure over the bone can also be helpful for mild bunion deformities. Functional foot orthotics, by controlling abnormal pronation, reduces the deforming forces leading to bunions in the first place. These may help reduce pain in mild bunion deformities and slow the progression of the deformity. When these conservative measures fail to provided adequate relief, surgical correction is indicated. The choice of surgical procedures (bunionectomy) is based on a biomechanical and radiographic examination of the foot. Because there is actual bone displacement and joint adaptation, most successful bunionectomies require cutting and realigning the 1st metatarsal (an osteotomy). Simply "shaving the bump" is often inadequate in providing long-term relief of symptoms and in some cases can actually cause the bunion to progress faster. The most common procedure performed for the correction of bunions is the 1st metatarsal neck osteotomy, near the level of the joint. This refers to the anatomical site on the 1st metatarsal where the actual bone cut is made. Other procedures are preformed in the shaft of the metatarsal bone (see procedures preformed in the shaft of the metatarsal) and still other procedures are selected by the surgeon that are preformed in the base of the metatarsal bone (see surgeries preformed in the base of the metatarsal)
A bunion forms when your big toe points toward the second toe. This causes a bump to appear on the inside edge of your toe.
Causes
Apart from being often heriditary, bunions are usually a result of faulty foot mechanics - in particular excess pronation (rolling inwards of the foot). Also, wearing footwear that is too tight whereby the toes are squeezed together may be a contributing factor.Symptoms
The most common symptoms of foot bunions are Toe Position: the toe points inwards towards the other toes in the foot into the hallux adbucto valgus position and may even cross over the next toe, Bony Lump: swelling on the outer side of the base of the toe which protrudes outwards, Redness: over the bony lump where it becomes inflamed, Hard Skin: over the bony lump known as a callus, Pain: it is often painful around the big toe, made worse by pressure on the toe and weight bearing activities, Change in Foot Shape: Your whole foot may gradually change shape for example getting wider, Stiffness: the big toe often becomes stiff and may develop arthritis Foot Bunion progression scale, Foot bunions are more common with increasing age. They develop gradually overtime from repeated force through the big toe and left untreated, become more pronounced with worsening symptoms.
Treatment
Early treatment of bunions is centered on providing symptomatic relief. Switching to a shoe with a rounder, deeper toe box and made of a softer more pliable leather will often provide immediate relief. The use of pads and cushions to reduce the pressure over the bone can also be helpful for mild bunion deformities. Functional foot orthotics, by controlling abnormal pronation, reduces the deforming forces leading to bunions in the first place. These may help reduce pain in mild bunion deformities and slow the progression of the deformity. When these conservative measures fail to provided adequate relief, surgical correction is indicated. The choice of surgical procedures (bunionectomy) is based on a biomechanical and radiographic examination of the foot. Because there is actual bone displacement and joint adaptation, most successful bunionectomies require cutting and realigning the 1st metatarsal (an osteotomy). Simply "shaving the bump" is often inadequate in providing long-term relief of symptoms and in some cases can actually cause the bunion to progress faster. The most common procedure performed for the correction of bunions is the 1st metatarsal neck osteotomy, near the level of the joint. This refers to the anatomical site on the 1st metatarsal where the actual bone cut is made. Other procedures are preformed in the shaft of the metatarsal bone (see procedures preformed in the shaft of the metatarsal) and still other procedures are selected by the surgeon that are preformed in the base of the metatarsal bone (see surgeries preformed in the base of the metatarsal) 
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