How would a podiatrist or foot specialist define ‘Bunion’?

Consult your Podiatrist or foot specialist for "Bunions"

Bunion is an enlargement on the side of the foot near the base of the big toe (hallux). The enlargement is made up of a bursa (fluid-filled sac) under the skin. Technically, the term bunion is just the soft tissue enlargement that occurs.

Signs & Symptoms of “Bunions”

Bunions are usually termed mild, moderate or severe. Just because you have a bunion does not mean you have to have pain. There are some people with very severe bunions and no pain and people with mild bunions and a lot of pain.

• Pain on the inside of your foot at the big toe joint .
• Swelling on the inside of your foot at the big toe joint
• Redness on the inside of your foot at the big toe joint
• Numbness or burning in the big toe (hallux)
• Decreased motion at the big toe joint
• Painful bursa (fluid-filled sac) on the inside of your foot at the big toe joint
• Pain while wearing shoes – especially shoes too narrow or with high heels
• Pain during activities
• Corn in between the big toe and second toe
• Callous formation on the side or bottom of the big toe or big toe joint
• Callous under the second toe joint (2nd MTPJ)
• Pain in the second toe joint

Diagnosis & Tests recommended by Podiatrists -

Your foot doctor (podiatrist) will ask you questions about the symptoms you are having while examining your foot. You will also probably be asked to stand and walk barefoot to further assess your foot function. The presence of a bunion is usually obvious, but sometimes there is more going on than just a bunion, so your podiatrist will usually take an x-ray.

The podiatrist will measure angles between the bones to help determine the stage of the bunion. Bunions are usually termed mild, moderate or severe. It is considered normal if your big toe bends up to 15 degrees toward your second toe. If the angle is more than 15 degrees, then it is considered hallux valgus.

Bunions can start out mild and progress to severe. There is no clear-cut way to predict if a bunion will get worse. The severity of the bunion and the symptoms you have will help determine what treatment is recommended for you.

Source – About dot com on foot health.