Why You Shouldn't Ignore Bunions

You might start to suspect that you have a bunion when your shoes stop fitting right or when foot pain starts to intrude on your quality of life. 

A bony protrusion or bulge forming near the base of your big toe might not let you get your foot into your shoes, or may cause painful rubbing and blistering once they’re on.

Bunions are a progressive podiatry condition that deforms your foot. That means the problem only gets worse over time without professional intervention and treatment. Bunions won’t get better on their own.

But you have plenty of good treatment options for dealing with bunions. At Town Center Foot & Ankle, our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Stephen Eichelsdorfer, can put together an effective treatment plan to ease bunion pain and restore the shape and comfort of your feet.

Dr. Eichelsdorfer, also known as “Dr. Ike,” helps people with bunions from our offices in Kingwood and Atascocita, Texas. If you’ve been ignoring early signs of a bunion, get in touch with Dr. Ike right away for evaluation, treatment, and relief.

How bunions get worse over time

Bunions form when there’s too much pressure, coming from the wrong angle, on the metatarsophalangeal joints (MTP joints) at the base of your big toes. High heels, shoes that pinch your toes, and even standing for too long on hard surfaces can all result in bunions.

Once this foot deformity starts to occur, it only worsens unless you intervene. As your front foot gets more and more out of alignment, the lump of the bunion typically grows larger, becoming more painful and more of a practical problem for you.

It’s tempting to try to ignore foot problems like bunions. Out of sight, out of mind, right? 

Wrong. Once foot pain starts to become a regular issue in your life, you won’t be able to ignore bunions. 

Instead of hiding bunions and pretending they’re not there, here’s what you should do instead.

Evaluation and treatment for bunions

There are many methods, ranging from the conservative to the invasive, to effectively treat bunions. You have a much better chance of being able to successfully address a bunion with noninvasive treatments if you seek help early, before your condition has progressed.

Dr. Eichelsdorfer starts with a thorough examination. He uses his observations, along with diagnostic imaging like X-rays, to determine what type of treatment you need to ease bunion pain and restore the correct shape of your foot.

Conservative approaches to bunion treatment include specialized padding, footwear changes, and custom orthotic inserts. In more severe cases, you may need bunion surgery to get rid of the bony growth of a large bunion.

For helpful, nonjudgmental, and effective support with foot problems like bunions, contact Dr. Eichelsdorfer and our team at Town Center Foot & Ankle. Schedule your initial evaluation by calling today, or request an appointment online now.