Bumps on the outside of the feet are called bunions. They are hard and often painful and are one of the most common foot deformities, according to the Canadian foot and ankle care specialists at the Calgary Foot Clinic. Bunions are generally diagnosed by a primary care physician or podiatrist simply with an examination and description of symptoms and choice in footwear. However, the doctor may want x-rays taken to further investigate the cause and severity of the bunions.
Symptoms
The bump caused by a bunion bulges out at the base of the big toe, where the skin is often thickened from ongoing pressure or friction. Alternatively, skin over the bump may become ulcerated, points out the Calgary Foot Clinic. The big toe itself typically angles inward toward the other toes, and its base joint may be red, swollen, sore or painful. Pain may be chronic or sporadic and mild to severe. Walking may trigger pain in the big toe, and tight shoes likely exacerbate this pain. Corns or calluses may develop between it and the neighboring toe.
Causes
Bumps on the outside of feet are deformities of the big toe's bone and base joint. A foot structure with a predisposition for bunions is often inherited, and some cases are present from birth, notes MayoClinic.com. Most other bunions form slowly over time on people who habitually wear shoes that are overly constrictive of the toes. Injuries to the forefoot or big toe can result in bunions as well. Athletes who frequently stress and strain their feet may develop bunions, and these bumps on the outside of the feet are also seen in people with inflammatory and degenerative forms of arthritis.
Significance
While bunions generally don't present any threat to health, the pain and inflammation associated with them can be disruptive. Physical activity can become difficult, and in extreme cases, bunions may even interfere with basic daily activities. Bunions are permanent without surgical correction, and they can continue to enlarge and present more or increasingly severe symptoms, cautions MayoClinic.com.
Symptom Relief
Wearing shoes with ample room for the toes is an important part of relieving the discomfort or pain associated with large bumps on the outside of the feet. Over-the-counter non-medicated bunion pads provide relief in most mild cases. A podiatrist or physical therapist can instruct in taping methods for more relief and can advise about shoe inserts. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen and ibuprofen, should be beneficial as well. A doctor can administer corticosteroid injections for severe bunion pain. Apply an ice pack for about 20 minutes a few times a day if the bump is red and swollen.
Treatment
Surgery provides the only permanent treatment for a bunion but is reserved for severe cases that don't respond to less drastic measures of symptom relief. A variety of procedures are available, and the best options vary depending on individual factors. However, surgery usually entails removal of inflamed tissue around the big toe joint, removing part of the big toe's bone and realigning the remainder and affixing the bones in the affected joint, explains MayoClinic.com.
