Bunions normally present as bumps or a swelling on the side or top of the big toe joint. People of all ages can develop bunions.

The technical name for a bunion is “Hallux Abduct valgus”. It is sometimes also referred to as just “Hallux Valgus”. Bunions form when the big toe angles towards the 2nd toe and this subsequently causes the “bump” or deformity that forms on the side of the big toe’s joint. This “bump” develops due to the increased pressure on footwear and is commonly made up of bone. The bump may also be due to a bursa (fluid filled sac) that forms across the joint in response to the pressure and friction. Over time a bunion can progressively get worse without treatment.        

Bunions can be a cause of discomfort and can also become quite painful. This can be due to hard skin that builds up due to altered joint mechanics, poor joint alignment and spasming of muscles in the area. They can also be painless and a multitude of patients seek medical intervention for cosmetic reasons or due to difficulty finding footwear. Ill-fitting or tight footwear, high heels, familial factors and biomechanical problems, including flat feet or low arches, are thought to be related to the cause of bunions.

Bunions can be diagnosed by Podiatrists and they can assist you with advice on footwear, correction of biomechanical problems with orthotic devices, improve foot function with Barefoot rehabilitation training, joint mobilisation to relieve pain and improve movement, shaving the calluses that often build up around a bunion and education on footwear to help reduce foot pain in the joint as well as getting the correct fit. Treatment prevents or slows the progression of a bunion and can relieve symptoms. Existing deformity can only be corrected by surgery, which we try to avoid unless it is interfering with daily function or some people choose to have surgery for cosmetic reasons. There are 2 options for surgery and your Podiatrist can go through them with you. One is with an orthopaedic surgeon and the other is with a podiatric surgeon.

If you live in Mount Hawthorn, North Perth or Leederville see one of the Podiatrists at Oxford Street Podiatry for treatment of your bunion pain.