What is a Bunion?
Bunions are a bony protrusion located on the inside of your foot at the joint of your big toe where it meets the rest of your foot. At the Los Angeles Institute of Foot and Ankle Surgery, we have three clinics that can help with this bothersome condition and determine the necessity of bunion surgery, located in Burbank, CA, Northridge, CA, and Santa Clarita, CA.
What Causes Bunions?
The exact cause of bunions is unknown. Research on bunions is inconclusive as to what may cause the formation of a bunion. There are known factors that are correlated with the formation of a bunion, however. They may be:
- Genetics. You may possess an inherited structural abnormality that may put you at risk of developing a bunion later in life.
- Injury to the foot or other excessive stress on the foot
- A risk may be wearing tight-fitting shoes or frequently wearing high heels.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
How is a Bunion diagnosed?
Bunions are usually easily diagnosed. This is due to the presence of a physical deformity. Obvious physical changes in your foot may be present. However, getting an x-ray or other imaging of the foot is recommended to make an accurate diagnosis. The expert physicians at the Institute located in Burbank, CA, Northridge, CA, and Santa Clarita, CA who perform bunion surgery provide diagnostic procedures as well. Symptoms other than pain may be:
- Frequently developing callouses on your foot
- Swelling around the joint of the big toe
- Decreased range of motion
- The appearance of a bulge on the inside of the foot
When is Bunion Surgery Necessary?
Bunion surgery to remove it becomes necessary when the pain from the bunion becomes intolerable and affects your day-to-day functioning. You can implement ways to decrease the pain and stress placed on a bunion to prevent the condition from worsening, but surgical intervention will be necessary to completely remove and correct the deformity.
Bunion surgery will almost always be necessary if you are experiencing pain, even when resting. Bunion surgery is called a Bunionectomy. Multiple different forms of surgery for a bunion may be performed which will be dependent upon the severity of your bunion, where exactly it is located, and if it is limiting your daily function.
The doctors at Los Angeles Institute of Foot and Ankle Surgery located in Burbank, CA, Northridge, CA, and Santa Clarita, CA are experts at bunion surgery. You can learn more about our expert care and make an appointment for a consultation by calling 818-848-5588.