5 Early Warning Signs of Growing Bunions

Bunions are an unfortunate foot problem that progressively worsens without treatment. It may take years for them to grow to the point where they're uncomfortable walking or wearing shoes, but they seem to sneak up on many people.

Living with a bunion means monitoring the deformity to know when it's time for professional treatment. The earlier you take the necessary precautions and interventions, the less likely you'll need surgery.

Dr. Marque A. Allen and the Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio team provide fast and efficient care for bunions. Dr. Allen is a foot and ankle specialist providing custom orthotics, topical CBD therapy, and Lapiplasty® surgery for painful bunions.

Understanding bunion progression

Bunions are an issue with the inherited foot structure and how you walk, which puts pressure on the MTP joint, causing the bones to misalign. The tell-tale sign of a bunion is the bony deformity that forms on the outer aspect of the big toe.

Unfortunately, bunions are a permanent problem that slowly progresses without treatment. Severe bunions often require surgery to treat the deformity and restore normal foot function.

As the bunion progresses, the symptoms often worsen and may lead to other complications. Bunion progression involves the bones in the MTP joint moving out of alignment, causing the bump on the outside of the joint to grow larger, which causes issues like:

• Chronic pain
• Bursitis in the joint
• Big toe bending inward
• Difficulty walking
• Trouble wearing shoes
• Hammer toe deformity
• Hallux rigidus, or stiff toe

The only way to prevent the progression of a bunion is to find it early on and take prevention steps that slow down the movement of the bones in the joint.

Five warning signs of a worsening bunion

As soon as a bunion forms, it's a permanent problem – but you can slow down the progression by noticing it as quickly as possible. If you're at risk for bunions or already know you have one, keep an eye out for the following five early warning signs of bunion progression:

1. Swelling around the big toe

As the deformity slowly begins to become more prevalent, inflammation around the big toe becomes more apparent. You may notice swelling after a long day on your feet or inflammation that doesn't seem to let up.

2. Pain with walking

As the bunion bump starts to increase, it may be harder to walk because the bones are shifting. It also causes swelling and pain, which get worse when you walk in tight shoes.

3. Tenderness on the bump

The bump may be more tender than usual as it begins to grow, which happens when the more significant bump rubs on the shoes, and internal inflammation occurs while the deformity worsens.

4. Progressive stiffness in the toe

As a bunion progresses, you may notice that the toe is stiffer and harder to move. Inflammation is the main culprit, but the bones moving more out of alignment make moving the toe difficult.

5. Redness on or around the deformity

As the bump gets larger, it's more likely to rub on the inside of your shoe, making it red and angry. You might also notice it's more painful or tender, especially after a long day in narrow-toed shoes.

Tips to prevent the bunion from growing

As soon as you notice a bunion forming, making a few changes is essential to ensure it doesn't worsen. There are some simple things you can do to prevent worsening symptoms from a bunion, and they include:

• Wear shoes with a roomy toe box
• Invest in custom orthotics
• Use toe spacers to keep the joint aligned
• Wear bunion pads to prevent rubbing
• Take anti-inflammatories to eliminate swelling
• Talk to Dr. Allen about steroid injections
• Apply ice to the area to alleviate the pain

Physical therapy is another nonsurgical option for treating bunion pain and stiffness. During therapy, you strengthen the tissues around the foot to prevent the joint from moving further. You also work on flexibility and range of motion.

If conservative measures aren't successful in preventing the progression of the bunion, you may need to consider surgery. Dr. Allen offers the cutting-edge Lapiplasty system, which treats the bunion surgically to ensure long-term pain relief and prevent it from forming again.

Call Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio today to schedule a bunion treatment appointment with Dr. Allen. We have two convenient locations in San Antonio, Texas. You can also request a consultation using our convenient online booking tool.