Although
bunions often require no medical treatment, see your doctor if you have:
-
Persistent big
toe or foot pain
-
A visible bump
on your big toe joint
-
Decreased
movement of your big toe or foot
-
Difficulty
finding shoes that fit properly
Screening and diagnosis
Before examining
your foot, your doctor will likely ask questions about the types of
shoes you wear and how frequently you wear them. He or she may also ask
if anyone in your family has had bunions or if you've had any injury to
your foot.
Your doctor can
identify a bunion simply by examining your foot. During the exam, your
doctor asks you to move your big toe up and down to determine if your
range of motion is limited. Your doctor also looks for signs of redness
or swelling and asks you about pain. After the physical exam, taking an
X-ray of your big toe joint may help your doctor determine how severe
your bunion is.
Complications
Bunions can
develop at any time during childhood or adulthood and are permanent
unless surgically removed. If the cushioning sac of fluid (bursa) over
the affected joint becomes inflamed (bursitis), a bunion can be very
painful and interfere with your normal activities. Left untreated,
bunions tend to get larger and more painful, making nonsurgical
treatment less effective.
