If you have trouble walking comfortably because of a painful, swollen lump where your big toe connects to your foot, you probably have a bunion, especially if you are a woman. Nine out of every ten people who suffer from bunions are female, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. This might have more to do with fashion sense than physiology.
Definition
A bunion is an abnormal, hard lump at the metatarsophalangeal joint of your big toe. A bunionette is a similar protrusion, but it is smaller and occurs on the other side of your foot at the base of your little toe. In both cases, the joint flexes when you walk. The larger bunions become, the more painful it is to walk.
Causes
Bunions and bunionettes can be hereditary due to a congenital flaw in the structure of your foot, or they can be caused by arthritis if the cartilage around your toe joints deteriorates. In some cases, bunions are the result of an injury to the foot. But more often than not, you can blame your shoes. MayoClinic.com advises that both bunions and bunionettes result from stress on the toe joints, usually compounded over a period of time by tight shoes, very high-heeled shoes or a lifestyle that requires you to be on your feet for long periods of time. High heels, especially those with a pointed toe, force the front of your foot downward and into a cramped, bound space.
Complications
If bunions continue to grow and are untreated, your big toe will begin turning inward, and this can affect the alignment of your other toes, according to MayoClinic.com. It can also change the growth of your toenails, causing them to curve back into the nail bed. The bottom of your foot might also become affected, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. The unnatural alignment of your toes can cause more pressure there, resulting in a painful thickening of your skin.
Remedies
Over-the-counter pain relievers can ease discomfort, but they won't cure the bunion or bunionette, advises MayoClinic.com. Ibuprofen and naproxen might relieve associated swelling. Ice, applied two or three times a day, can also reduce the swelling. Bunion and bunionette pads are also available at your drugstore.
Recommendations
To prevent bunions and bunionettes from occurring or to survive with existing ones, choose shoes with square toes and heels no higher than 2 1/4 inches. Aetna InteliHealth recommends selecting shoes with half an inch of space between the front and your longest toe. If buying new shoes isn't an option, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society suggests having your existing shoes stretched out by a professional but in no case should you wear very high heels.
Medical Intervention
If over-the-counter remedies and other adjustments fail and you experience a decreased ability to be able to move your big toe, see your doctor. She can show you how to tape your foot into a more comfortable position for walking or prescribe specially-fitted shoe inserts to accommodate the shape of your foot. Cortisone injections might also be an option. Extreme cases might require surgery, usually for a bunion rather than a bunionette, because they grow larger and can interfere with daily life. Surgery involves realigning your big toe, usually by removing a portion of bone. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society advises that recovery can take up to six months.
