If you have foot health issues like bunions and hammertoes, walking or wearing shoes may be uncomfortable. If you’re experiencing pain or having trouble moving your affected foot, see a podiatrist for a check-up and treatment. Here are some possible causes and treatments for bunions and hammertoes:
Causes and Treatments for Bunions and Hammertoes
Causes of Bunions
Bunions develop when the big toe bends inward, causing the base of the joint to stick outward. This foot issue can be genetic, meaning it runs in families due to inherited foot structures. Another common cause of bunions is wearing shoes that are too tight, too narrow, or have high heels. These shoe features may put extra pressure on the toe joint and cause the bones to shift over time.
Other health conditions, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, cause joint inflammation and contribute to bunions. Lifestyle activities like standing for long periods or working on your feet strain the toe joint. People with a history of foot injuries, including athletes, are more prone to developing bunions due to repetitive strain on their feet. When you have bunions, you might experience redness and a burning sensation on the medial side of the big toe.
Bunion Treatment
Replacing footwear with shoes that have wide, deep toe boxes helps take pressure off your toes. You can buy over-the-counter bunion pads to cushion the area around a bunion to relieve the strain. A qualified podiatrist may prescribe personalized orthotic inserts that provide support and reduce pain.
If the bunions are severe, a foot specialist performs surgery to remove the swollen tissue around the big toe joint. This procedure realigns the bones to minimize protrusion. In serious cases, a foot doctor joins the affected bones using screws, plates, and wires until they heal fully. If you’re experiencing regular pain, ask your doctor about taking over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce discomfort and inflammation.
Causes of Hammertoes
People who have hammertoes experience changes in their toe joints that make them curve instead of lying flat. Hammertoes cause the affected toes to appear bent constantly. Conditions like arthritis or diabetes, which affect the nerves and muscles, can lead to muscle imbalances that misshape the foot.
Another common cause of this foot problem is having flat or high-arched feet, which results in uneven pressure distribution on your toes. If your toes are longer than average, they may not fit comfortably in standard shoe sizes. This increases the force on the toes, causing hammertoes to develop slowly. If you have developed bunions, they push your toes out of alignment and put extra pressure on them, causing hammertoes. Skin discoloration, swelling, and corns are some common symptoms of hammertoes.
Hammertoe Treatment
To manage hammertoes, your podiatrist may suggest exercises or stretches that will help your toes stay in the correct position. For mild cases, a foot specialist recommends using medical tape to hold your toes in the proper alignment. Applying pads or splints to support the toe helps it maintain a straight posture. To manage pain and swelling, use ice packs to provide relief and reduce inflammation.
If these treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, a provider may recommend a corrective surgery procedure. The hammertoe procedure involves removing a portion of the joint to allow the toe to lie flat. Hammertoe surgery also involves adjusting the tendons to correct the muscle imbalance causing the toe to bend.
if you want to read more about Health Click here!
Book an Appointment With a Podiatrist
Bunions and hammertoes are foot problems that may affect your ability to walk, run, or wear certain types of shoes. If you’re experiencing a lot of pain or your toes are swollen, see a foot specialist for an examination and treatment plan. Schedule an appointment with a reputable podiatrist today to learn more about relieving pain and restoring your mobility.
