Bunion or Not? How to Know What’s Wrong With Your Toe Best Foot Doctor NY - Best Foot Doctor (2024)

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Home > Bunion or Not? How to Know What’s Wrong With Your Toe

Patients frequently seek bunion surgery in Brooklyn because they think they have a bunion on their toe. In some cases, they are right, and they need to have the bunion removed to alleviate the pain and return normal function to the foot. In some cases, however, they have misdiagnosed their own condition. This is why you should always seek an appointment with a podiatrist or foot surgeon in Brooklyn who is familiar with all types of abnormalities of the feet and toes to ensure a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Is It a Bunion?

A bunion forms when the bones at the base of the big toe are misaligned, causing the joint to turn inward. The metatarsal joint then shoves outward, creating what looks like a knot on the outside of the toe. This may be genetic or caused by an injury. Poorly fitting shoes can make this worse. In the early stages, a bunion may not be painful, but it can become swollen, irritated, and red. Some patients develop hammertoes, pinched nerves, and debilitating pain that prevents comfortable movement. A bunion surgeon in Brooklyn can help you determine whether surgery is needed to alleviate the pain and remove the painful joint malformation.

Is It Something Else?

Your NYC podiatrist may examine your foot and determine you don’t have a bunion. This doesn’t mean you don’t have a treatable condition. Other painful conditions can be helped with proper medical care.

Bursitis

Bursitis results from the bursae (small, fluid-filled sacs) cushioning the muscles, tendons, and bones around your joints becoming inflamed. This often happens at the base of the toe when it is repeatedly irritated. It is often mistaken for a bunion because it is painful, swollen, and red. You may be able to tell the difference by pressing on the area. While a bunion is bony and hard, bursitis will be fleshier and have some give to it because the bursae are sacs of fluid. Bursitis can usually be resolved without resorting to bunion surgery in Brooklyn.

Gout

This form of arthritis is the build-up of uric acid on the blood, which leads to the formation of painful crystals in the joints. In the toes, this is often mistaken for a bunion because it causes painful swelling of the big toe. However, it is usually much more intense and usually strikes people who eat a diet high in shellfish, red meat, and foods rich in uric acid. Patients with kidney disease are also susceptible to gout. Prescription medication is currently the only way to keep gout under control, along with OTC pain relievers for the discomfort.

RA

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory joint disease that can affect not only the big toe but other joints of the body. It usually starts in the feet or hands and is often easier to distinguish from gout because it will affect more bones in the feet or toes. However, many people who have RA of the feet end up developing bunions because the erosion of the toe joints leads to shifting of the joints, which causes bunions. If you have rheumatoid arthritis in your toe joints, your podiatrist may refer you to a bunion surgeon in Brooklyn if you develop bunions due to your RA.

Osteoarthritis

Another form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is caused by simple wear and tear to the joint. Individuals sometimes develop a bump on the outside of the big toe that resembles a bunion when the bones in the toe joint develop a bone spur caused by the bones rubbing together as cartilage erodes in the joint. In rare cases, osteoarthritis can lead to a dorsal bunion, which develops on top of the base of the toe joint. A bunion surgeon in Brooklyn can remove this form of a bunion as well as the more common form of a bunion.

Ganglion Cyst

A ganglion cyst is a bump on your big toe that disappears when you press on it. This cyst is a fluid-filled sac (sort of like bursitis) that usually develops at the site of an injury or past trauma. Sometimes these spontaneously go away over time. If the cyst doesn’t go away, you can have it drained or removed. If it doesn’t bother you and isn’t large enough to interfere with daily activities, it is safe to leave a cyst where it is.

If you aren’t sure whether you have a bunion or something else on your toe, it’s essential to see a podiatrist as soon as possible. At Best Foot Doctor NY, we regularly perform bunion surgery in Brooklyn to relieve our patients’ foot pain and ensure their feet are healthy and able to support them properly. Call today at 718-873-3174 to schedule an appointment with Dr. E, a bunion doctor in Brooklyn to find out if your foot pain is caused by a bunion or other conditions that can be treated in our New York offices.

Bunion or Not? How to Know What’s Wrong With Your Toe Best Foot Doctor NY - Best Foot Doctor (2024)

FAQs

What can be mistaken as a bunion? ›

Osteoarthritis

In some cases, patients develop a bump at the base of the big toe called a bone spur (extra bone growth) than may resemble a bunion. “Osteoarthritis can also cause a type of bunion called a dorsal bunion, which is found at the top of the base of the joint,” Dr. Curran says.

How do I know if it's a bunion or something else? ›

The most obvious symptom of a bunion is the growth that forms at the base of your big toe. You can usually see and feel the bony bump. A bunion can cause other symptoms, including: Pain or stiffness in your big toe.

Why is bunion surgery not recommended? ›

Prolonged swelling, infection, and deep vein thrombosis can result from this treatment. Some of the other possible complications include over- or under-correction, loss of correction, joint stiffness, and nerve entrapment.

What do podiatrists recommend for bunions? ›

Your podiatrist will likely recommend the following treatment options for your bunion:
  • · Padding and Taping (Usually Your First-Line Treatment) ...
  • Anti-Inflammatories and Cortisone Injections. ...
  • Prescription Orthotics. ...
  • Surgery.
Feb 12, 2021

What does a bad bunion look like? ›

The signs and symptoms of a bunion include: A bulging bump on the outside of the base of your big toe. Swelling, redness or soreness around your big toe joint. Corns or calluses — these often develop where the first and second toes rub against each other.

What is the difference between a bunion and a hallux rigidus? ›

The lump of a bunion is found on the inside of the big toe, as opposed to the top in hallux rigidus. The pain from a bunion is most commonly caused by pressure from shoes or, on occasions, by crowding or crossing over of the lesser toes. The latin for a bunion is hallux valgus, as opposed to rigidus.

How can I shrink my bunions naturally? ›

  1. Massage and Exercise Your Feet. One of the simplest ways to treat your bunions without surgery is to, in fact, exercise your feet. ...
  2. Take a Paracetamol. ...
  3. Soak Your Feet in a Foot Bath. ...
  4. Ice Your Feet. ...
  5. Put Your Feet Up! ...
  6. Try Castor Oil. ...
  7. Try Bunion Pads. ...
  8. Try Bunion Splints.
Jul 20, 2022

Can you fix bunions without surgery? ›

In most cases, bunions can be treated nonsurgically. One of the podiatrists from our team can examine your bunion(s) and recommend a conservative treatment which includes one or more of the following: Custom shoe orthotics (inserts) that relieve pressure on the joint and align your weight in a more beneficial way.

What is the difference between a bunion and a ganglion? ›

Ganglions can be distinguished from bunions by feel since ganglions are softer to the touch.

When is it too late for bunion surgery? ›

There's no cut-and-dry rule regarding an age limit for bunion surgery.

Is 65 too old for bunion surgery? ›

Depending on the procedure and mobility limitations, pre-op discussions about a patient's home situation and potential support group may be necessary. For the most part, an active, healthy patient can recover from bunion surgery regardless of age.

What is the new bunion surgery? ›

Lapiplasty® technology can be used to address mild, moderate, and severe bunions. The Lapiplasty® Procedure corrects the entire bone and secures the unstable foundation to get you back on your feet in a walking boot within 3-10 days.

What shoes not to wear with bunions? ›

Heel Height: Excessively high heels can make bunions worse. They put the body's weight more forward, which causes more pressure on and around the bunion area. To avoid pain, Dr. Daughtry suggests heels no higher than two inches.

Does walking barefoot help bunions? ›

Going barefoot is ideal in the beginning stages of bunions. When barefoot, the joints of the toes will get stronger, an important part of good foot health.

Is walking good for bunions? ›

The answer is yes and no. In some cases, barefoot walking can be helpful for bunion management. For example, if your bunion is really painful or tender you should always try to wear shoes that fit well and don't rub against it when walking around.

Is it a bunion or just my foot? ›

Early signs of bunions

Pain or tenderness in your big toe or foot. Swelling or redness around your big toe joint. Red, irritated or warm-to-the-touch skin around your big toe joint. Stiffness or limited range of motion in your big toe or foot.

Can a bone spur look like a bunion? ›

The two can appear to be very similar because they feel like a bump on your big toe's joint. They both can cause redness and swelling of the toes and surrounding areas as well. Both can result from improper footwear as well. There are, however, some critical differences between bunions and bone spurs.

What is sesamoiditis of the foot? ›

Sesamoiditis is an inflammation of the sesamoid bones in the ball of the foot and the tendons they are embedded in. It's usually caused by overuse, especially by dancers, runners and athletes who frequently bear weight on the balls of their feet.

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