Bunions Specialist

What are bunions?

Bunions (hallux valgus) are deformities affecting the large joint at the bottom of your big toe, the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The MTP joint and the bone just below it move out of place, which causes a protrusion on the side of your toe. 

Another kind of bunion is a bunionette (tailor's bunion), which develops in a corresponding place on your little toe (tailor bone). Bunions are often very uncomfortable and can also cause physical difficulties with movement. 

In most cases, bunions gradually worsen without treatment. Your big toe often tilts to the side, sometimes over the top of your smaller toes. Continued pressure on your other toes forces additional foot changes, potentially causing alignment issues for the whole top and middle foot.

How do you identify a bunion?

Bunions cause a painful bump on the side of your foot. Even if the bump isn’t too prominent yet, you can often see other changes such as:

• Skin swelling
• Skin inflammation (edema)
• Pain when you move your toe
• New calluses on the ball of your foot, due to foot balance changes
• Frozen big toe 

If you suspect a bunion, the Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia - West Cobb team is ready to diagnose and treat it.

What causes bunions?

Bunions are caused by pressure and irregular motion involving your MTP joint and its surrounding tissues and bones. Certain inherited foot types and foot movement patterns increase your odds of developing bunions.

Shoes don’t cause bunions. If you’re susceptible to bunions because of your foot type and walking patterns, however, wearing high heels every day can certainly bring on the bunions faster. That’s why women have bunions twice as often as men. 

Some less common causes of bunions can include foot trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, neuromuscular disease, and congenital deformities. 

The Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia - West Cobb team is highly skilled in bunion diagnosis, which also includes properly identifying the underlying reason for the growth. 

What is the best bunion treatment?

The Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia - West Cobb team offers highly successful nonsurgical and surgical treatments for bunions. 

Nonsurgical care

Nonsurgical bunion care can include padding, taping, physical therapy, and custom orthotics, among other noninvasive options. 

Bunion Surgery

Surgery for bunions and surgery for tailor's bunions varies by the case. Your podiatric surgeon (foot doctor) can shave and smooth the bump, shift and reposition the affected bones, use an implant to replace the joint, or fuse the joint with biocompatible hardware. 

The team has a well established recovery plan in place following all surgeries. This post-surgery support gets you back to walking safely very soon. 

Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia - West Cobb is the leading bunion care facility in the area, so reach out for your treatment by phone or with online booking now.

Podiatrist seeing patients from Marietta, Kennesaw, Hiram, and Acworth.