4 Reasons to See A Doctor if You Suspect a Bunion

Your feet are made up of 26 bones, 30 joints, over 100 muscles, and numerous tendons and ligaments. This complex system handles the stress that you put on your feet when you’re standing, walking, running, and jumping. 

Wearing supportive shoes and getting your feet checked out by a doctor help ensure that they’re supported and stay healthy, so you can do all the things you need and want to do.

From his medical practice in San Jose, California, highly skilled and respected podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Leonard Greenwald, DPM, provides patients with top notch professional foot care. From diabetic foot care to sports injuries, Dr. Greenwald and his experienced staff help you get the care you need in a comfortable and supportive environment. 

Dr. Greenwald has effective treatments for bunions and the information you need to prevent them.

What is a bunion?

A bunion is a bump that appears on the joint at the base of your big toe. Bunions occur when some of the bones in the front part of your foot are pushed out of place, causing the joint to stick out to the side. The skin that covers this joint can get inflamed, sore, and painful. 

There are a number of things that can cause bunions, including the shape of your feet, wearing overly tight shoes, and medical conditions such as arthritis. Whatever the cause of bunions, it’s essential to get proper medical care to ensure they don’t worsen and cause more serious conditions, such as bursitis. 

4 reasons to see a doctor if you suspect a bunion

If you think you may have a bunion, it’s important to see a doctor. It’s essential to get proper and prompt care for a number of reasons.

Pain

If your bunion isn’t already painful, it likely will become painful after a period of time. If it’s already causing you discomfort, that pain may worsen over time. Chronic pain can impact you physically as well as mentally, so it’s important to get the treatment you need to prevent it.

Arthritis

Over time, an untreated bunion may cause arthritis in your foot. The stress that a bunion puts on your toe joint may cause the cartilage in this joint to deteriorate. This can result in a condition that causes chronic pain and isn’t curable.

Crossover toe

If your bunion isn’t properly treated in a timely manner, it could cause a condition called crossover toe. This sounds exactly like what it is: your second toe crosses over to sit on top of your big toe. This foot deformity can cause pain along with difficulty putting weight on your foot, resulting in difficulty moving about.

Bursitis

An untreated bunion can also cause a painful condition called bursitis. There are small fluid-filled sacs called bursa that help cushion your joints. With bursitis, those sacs become inflamed due to excess stress or overuse. This inflammation causes painful swelling and can make moving difficult.

To learn more about bunion treatments and bunion prevention, call our office to set up an appointment with Dr. Greenwald. You can also use our handy appointment booking system to find a date and time that work best for you.