If your big toe joint looks out of place and you have trouble walking because of pain, you may require treatment for a common condition known as a bunion. At the Houston, Sugar Land, Baytown & Pearland, TX orthopedic offices of Eugene Stautberg, MD, you can receive a comprehensive diagnosis and customized treatment plan to alleviate bunion pain. Dr. Stautberg also offers both surgical and nonsurgical options to repair the affected toe joint and help you stay active. To learn more about treating bunions, schedule a consultation at the Houston orthopedic office by phone or using the online booking feature.
A bunion is not just a bony bump that develops on the base of your big toe. A bunion is actually a deformity where the first ray moves away from the rest of the foot. As a result, the great toe can compress against your second toe.
The primary cause of bunions is wearing ill-fitting shoes that are too tight and force your toes together, as well as high heels.
You can also develop bunions from injuries, other health conditions, like arthritis, or from a structural issue in your foot.
A bunion can cause symptoms like:
You can also experience either chronic pain in your toe joint or have pain that comes and goes depending on your activity.
Seek treatment for bunions when pain becomes persistent or affects your ability to perform your job or daily tasks.
Dr. Stautberg may confirm a bunion diagnosis during a physical examination of your foot. He may request an X-ray to determine the severity of your condition and to create a treatment plan.
Yes. Dr. Stautberg offers several treatment options to relieve the pain and limitations of a bunion. He may initially recommend certain lifestyle changes, such as changing the type of shoes you wear and using shoe inserts to reduce the stress on your toe joints.
Over-the-counter medications can help relieve your pain and inflammation. You may also want to use ice several times a day to stop swelling and prevent soreness of your joints.
If these treatment options aren’t effective in treating your bunion, Dr. Stautberg may recommend surgical options to correct the condition. Surgery may involve realigning the big toe through changes the bones and soft tissues around the joint.
Following surgical treatment of a bunion, it’s important that you wear comfortable, properly-fitting shoes to prevent a recurrence of the condition.
Find out which bunion treatment option is right for you by calling Dr. Stautberg’s office or using the online booking feature.
