Bunions are more than just a bump on the side of your big toe. They’re a sign that the structure of your foot has shifted out of alignment. While they often start small, bunions can worsen over time and create a ripple effect throughout your foot.
If left untreated, they don’t just cause pain; they can also set the stage for additional foot problems that impact mobility.
At Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic in Michigan City, Chesterton, Indiana, and Lombard, Illinois, our team of experts can help you understand what’s really happening beneath the surface and how the right care can protect your long-term foot health.
A bunion forms when your big toe drifts inward toward the second toe and forces your metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint to protrude outward.
This misalignment changes the way your foot absorbs pressure with every step. This altered pressure can:
This is why bunions often lead to secondary foot issues that develop slowly but can become painful and limiting.
If you have bunions, you might also experience:
When your big toe shifts out of position, it can push the second toe upward or sideways. This constant pressure often leads to hammertoe, a condition where your toe becomes bent at the middle joint and stiffens over time. Eventually, this can become so rigid that you can’t bend your toe anymore.
Hammertoes can make wearing shoes uncomfortable and cause corns or calluses to form.
Because bunions change how you distribute weight, the ball of your foot often absorbs more impact than it should. This can lead to inflammation and burning pain known as metatarsalgia. In fact, bunions are the number one cause of metatarsalgia.
You may suspect you have metatarsalgia if you feel as though you’re “walking on a pebble,” especially during longer periods of activity.
As your foot tries to compensate for the bunion, new friction points develop inside your shoe. This can cause painful calluses or corns, particularly on toes that rub together or on the ball of your foot, where pressure increases.
Bunions cause problems at the front of your foot, but the problems don’t stop there.
Misalignment at the front of your foot can affect your heel. When your gait mechanics change, your plantar fascia (the thick band of tissue along the bottom of your foot) can become strained. This leads to plantar fasciitis.
You might suspect you’ve developed plantar fasciitis if your heel hurts after periods of rest, especially first thing in the morning.
A long-standing bunion can cause wear-and-tear arthritis in the joint at the base of your big toe. This reduces movement, increases stiffness, and makes walking more painful.
The longer a bunion goes untreated, the more likely it is to cause other foot problems. Early care can slow down your bunion’s progression, reduce pain, and protect the rest of your foot from unnecessary strain.
At Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic, we customize your treatment plan based on your symptoms and the severity of your bunion. Your treatment options may include:
We can also address any other foot problems, like plantar fasciitis or corns, that may have developed as a result of your bunion.
Bunions rarely improve on their own, but the right care can make a major difference. If you’re noticing discomfort, changes in your gait, or signs of other foot issues developing, we’re here to help.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Mahmood and Dr. Wilson at Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic today to discuss your bunion treatment options. You can also reach us at 219-214-2047.
