What Causes a Bunion to Form?

Get the facts about bunions and how to care for them.

Bunions are very common foot deformities that most often impact the joint at the base of the big toe. A bunion can enlarge and even reposition the joint, causing changes in the way you walk along with increased pain. Whether bunions run in your family, or our Sterling Heights, MI, podiatrists Dr. Kyle Sundblad and Dr. Sadegh Arab has told you that you have a bunion, here’s what you should understand about this common problem.

What causes a bunion to form?

Unfortunately, you can often blame genetics for your bunion. After all, this problem does run in families. So if your mom or your grandmother has a bunion, chances are good that you’ll deal with this issue at some point, too. The best thing you can do is properly care for your feet and visit our Sterling Heights, MI, podiatrists once a year to make sure that if you do develop a bunion that it’s detected early.

Sometimes previous foot injuries or certain foot conditions such as arthritis can impact the structure of the foot and increase your risk for bunions. If you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis or other health problems that impact the health and function of your feet, it’s important to speak with our team to discover ways to reduce your risk of developing bunions.

How is a bunion treated?

How our Sterling Heights, MI, podiatrists recommend treating a bunion will depend on the severity of the deformity. It’s important to recognize the early warning signs of a bunion so you can turn to us right away for care. In the beginning stages, our goal is to create a treatment plan that will slow the progress of the deformity. Some ways to treat your bunion include,

  • Icing
  • Rest
  • Elevation
  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Properly fitted and supportive footwear
  • Splinting or bracing
  • Custom orthotics

When is surgery necessary?

The benefit of turning to our Sterling Heights, MI, podiatrists for your bunions is that we can often prevent the need for surgery later in life by making sure you properly care for your feet now. Through a customized treatment plan, we can prevent the bunion from growing so large that it impacts the overall health and function of your feet; however, you may wish to consider bunion surgery if,

  • You are dealing with significant and chronic foot pain
  • You have trouble performing day-to-day tasks and activities
  • You have to avoid exercise due to foot pain
  • Wearing shoes leads to significant discomfort and pain
  • Your big toe has crossed over the smaller toes

Surgery is often the best course of action when home care isn’t alleviating your symptoms and the overall structure and function of your feet are impacted by your bunion.

Don’t let bunions impact your daily routine? Our Sterling Heights, MI, podiatrists work with patients regularly to find ways to ease bunion pain and swelling and prevent the need for surgery. To schedule an evaluation, call Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Care at (586) 731-7873.

Office Hours

Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Contact Us