Bunions happen when something puts extra pressure on your big toe and pushes it out of its natural alignment and toward your other toes. Visit a healthcare provider if you notice a bump at the base of your big toe. Treating bunions is usually a combination of wearing properly fitting shoes and treating any symptoms like pain and stiffness.
A bunion is a bony bump that forms at the base of your big toe. Bunions develop on the inside edge of your big toe joint — the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The MTP joint is where the base of your big toe meets your foot. The medical term for bunions is hallux valgus.
Visit a healthcare provider if you notice a bump on your big toe, especially if you’re experiencing pain, stiffness or numbness in your toes or feet.
Bunions on your big toe from extra pressure are the most common, but they can form on other toes and for other reasons, too. Other types of bunions include:
Bunions are very common. Experts estimate that around one-third of Americans have bunions.
The most obvious symptom of a bunion is the growth that forms at the base of your big toe. You can usually see and feel the bony bump. A bunion can cause other symptoms, including:
There’s not just one reason why bunions develop. It’s thought that a combination of factors — like family history, abnormal bone structure, increased motion and shoe choice — can cause them. When something puts extra pressure on your big toe joint for a long time (usually years), that pressure can push your joint out of its natural alignment and toward your other toes. Eventually, a bunion forms on your MTP joint when your body compensates for your toe being pushed out of its usual place.
The most common causes of extra pressure on your big toe joint include:
Anyone can develop a bunion. Certain groups of people who are more likely to have bunions include:
A healthcare provider will diagnose a bunion with a physical exam. They’ll examine your foot and ask about your symptoms. Tell your provider when you first noticed a bump near your big toe or if certain activities make your symptoms worse.
You might need to visit a podiatrist — a provider who specializes in caring for your feet.
You may not need any tests for your provider to diagnose a bunion. Your provider will use foot X-rays to determine the overall alignment of your bones and your MTP joint.
The most common bunion treatments include:
No, bunions don’t just go away and you can’t fix bunions on your own. See a healthcare provider or podiatrist if you have a bunion. They’ll diagnose it and suggest treatments to relieve your symptoms.
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