Do I Need Treatment For My Bunions? – Dr Victor Seah
What are Bunions?
Bunions are a type of foot deformity that causes pain and discomfort. They occur when the big toe moves towards the second toe, causing it to rub against the side of your shoe. This can lead to swelling and redness around your bunion, as well as calluses on top of your toes or around them.
Bunions can also cause other problems such as arthritis in other joints in your feet or ankles due to overuse from compensating for pain caused by bunions; this may lead to further complications such as tendonitis or joint stiffness
What are the Symptoms of Bunions?
- This is the most common symptom of bunions, and it can range from mild to severe.
- The bony bump on your toe can cause inflammation in the surrounding tissue, which causes swelling around it.
- Redness and warmth around your affected joint may also occur as a result of inflammation caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes or standing for long periods of time on hard surfaces (such as concrete).
- Calluses are another sign that something is wrong with your feet–they form when you put pressure on one area for too long without giving yourself enough time to heal properly between activities like walking or running long distances on hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete
Diagnosis of Bunions
Before you begin treatment, your doctor will perform a physical examination. This will help them to determine whether or not you have bunions and if they are causing any pain.
Your doctor may also order X-rays or imaging tests such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans to get a better look at the bunion and surrounding bones.
Treatment of Bunions
Bunion treatment is a broad term that covers a number of different methods. The main goal of any bunion treatment is to reduce pain and improve the function of your foot, so that you can walk comfortably.
The following are some common non-surgical options:
- Customized shoes with built-in orthotics (shoe inserts) can help correct alignment problems in your feet. They also provide support for your arches so they don’t flatten out while walking or standing on hard surfaces like concrete floors at work or home. This helps prevent further damage from occurring as well as pain due to overuse of muscles around bunions
Non-Surgical Options for Bunions
- Pain Relievers:
Pain relievers are the first line of defense against bunion pain. Over-the-counter options include ibuprofen, acetaminophen and naproxen sodium (Aleve). If you’re looking for something stronger, prescription medications such as tramadol can also help to reduce your discomfort. - Padding and Taping:
Padding is another option for reducing bunion pain. You can purchase gel pads that adhere to the skin around your affected foot; these will cushion any pressure points from shoes or other tight-fitting footwear items like high heels or boots with pointed toes. Another option is taping up your toes so they don’t rub together when walking around in shoes–this may also help prevent blisters from forming on top of existing bunions due to friction between swollen tissue surfaces inside shoes that weren’t designed specifically for people with bunions!
Dr Victor Seah is an orthopaedic surgeon whose main area of subspecialty is in are in trauma/fractures and foot and ankle surgeries.
For a comprehensive assessment of your foot and ankle conditions, make an appointment to consult Dr Seah at +65 67340378 now!