Painful lump at the base of your big toe that rubs against your shoes? You may have a bunion. Bunions are especially common in women, but anyone can develop bunions – even young people. Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics offers bunion treatments including bunion surgery to help you walk without pain so you can enjoy all the fun and adventure that East Tennessee has to offer.
Bunions are bony bumps at the base of your big toe, where the toe attaches to the foot. Bunions occur when the bones in the front of the foot move out of place, causing the big toe to tilt inward toward the other toes and the joint at the bottom of the big toe to protrude outward.
Wearing narrow shoes or footwear that is too tight is a common cause of bunions. This is likely why bunions are more common in women than in men. Some people, especially people with flat feet, are more likely to develop bunions because of the natural shape of their feet. Inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may also contribute to the development of bunions.
The most obvious symptom of a bunion is the telltale bulge on the outside of the joint where the big toe connects to the foot. Other symptoms of bunions include:
When patients come to Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics with bunions, we nearly always suggest trying non-invasive bunion treatments first. Some of the non-invasive treatments for bunions we recommend include:
If non-invasive bunion treatments don’t do enough to relieve your pain, bunions surgery may be the right choice. Depending on your unique anatomy, your Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics’ surgeon may choose some or all of the following surgical treatments for bunions. Some of these treatments can have you back on your feet pain-free rather quickly, but depending on the severity of your bunions and the surgical procedure, recovery may take longer.
Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics offers orthopedic foot and ankle care at its many locations in and around Knoxville, so you’re never far from the expert orthopedic foot care you need. Wherever you are in East Tennessee, you’re always close to an orthopedic ankle specialist that can help you “get back on your feet” and back to the physical activities you love.
Our team of orthopedic foot surgeons are board-certified experts with expansive experience in their field. They’ve helped countless patients in Knoxville, Crossville, Oak Ridge, Sevierville and Lenoir City walk with confidence, not pain. If you’re struggling with ongoing foot pain or lack of mobility as a result of arthritis, illness, or injury, our orthopedic foot surgeons can get you on the path to feeling like yourself again.