A hallux valgus, also commonly known as a bunion, is a deformity that causes your big toe to point towards its neighbors. When this occurs, you’ll see and feel an uncomfortable or painful bump on the bone outside your big toe. If you’re concerned that you may have a bunion, Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski, our foot doctor here at the Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley, LTD in Naperville, IL, can examine your case and determine the most suitable treatment options for you.
Common Symptoms of Bunions
Depending on the degree of your deformity, you may experience one or a couple of the following symptoms:
- Calluses where your toe rubs against each other
- Paint in your big toe joint that worsens when you wear tight footwear
- A burning feeling in your big toe
- Difficulty walking normally
- Numbness of your big toe
- Inflamed, thickened, and red skin along your big toe’s outer edge
Treatment Options for Bunion Pain
The first line of treatment for bunions involves nonsurgical remedies that are focused on alleviating your symptoms. These can include:
- Wearing bunion pads, splints, or toe spacers
- Wearing wide or professionally adjusted footwear to give your toes more space
- Refraining from doing activities that lead to pain
- Wearing padded footwear inserts or other similar devices that aids in distributing pressure evenly when you’re walking
- Applying ice packs or warm soaks to the affected site
- Taking NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen and ibuprofen when your bunion is especially painful
- Corticosteroid injections
Keep in mind, however, these nonsurgical treatment options will not be able to get rid of the bunion permanently and can only offer relief from your symptoms temporarily. This means that your foot doctor in Naperville, IL, Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski, may recommend surgery depending on the intensity of your symptoms.
Is your bunion causing you pain?
Arrange a visit with Dr. Nancy Jagodzinski, our foot doctor here at the Ankle & Foot Center of Fox Valley in Naperville, IL, by dialing (630) 778-7670.
