Bunions — those bony bumps that form at the base of your big toe — are often misunderstood, and, unfortunately, there are many myths surrounding these bony protrusions.
By understanding the truth about bunions, why they form, and what you can do to manage them, you can take better care of your feet.
Read on as our expert team at Manhattan Podiatry Associates, with convenient locations in both Midtown and Downtown New York City, debunks five common myths.
Fact: Bunions aren’t tumors at all.
Bunions develop when your metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint shifts out of alignment and causes your big toe to lean inward. This misalignment can create a big, bony protrusion where the base of your big toe meets your foot.
Even though bunions aren’t tumors, they still cause pain, especially if the bump rubs against your shoes. Bunions can also contribute to swelling and difficulty walking.
Fact: While wearing tight, narrow shoes can worsen bunions, they’re not the sole cause.
Some people are simply predisposed to developing bunions due to inherited foot shapes, including flat feet.
Inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and genetic issues that affect your bone development, such as Chitayat syndrome and fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, can also increase your risk of developing bunions.
Fact: Bunions can affect both men and women. About one in five adults has some degree of bunion development.
How does that break down between males and females? According to a subgroup analysis based on gender, researchers found that bunions are significantly more common in females than males. The pooled estimate shows that 23.74% of females in the study population had bunions, while 11.43% of males had bunions.
Put another way, women are more than twice as likely to have bunions as men. But why? Women are more likely to develop bunions because they tend to have weaker tendons in their feet and are more likely to wear narrow or high-heeled shoes.
Fact: Bunions certainly pose cosmetic concerns, but they’re more than just a bump on your foot.
Bunions can cause chronic pain, inflammation, and even arthritis in your affected joint if left untreated.
Because of the misalignment, bunions can put more pressure and friction on the cartilage in your joint. If the cartilage wears down too much, this can eventually lead to osteoarthritis — a type of arthritis dubbed wear-and-tear arthritis.
The bottom line is that bunions are a medical condition that deserves proper attention.
Fact: Not all bunions require surgery.
Conservative treatments like wearing orthotics, choosing supportive footwear, and using toe spacers can relieve discomfort and slow progression. Our Manhattan Podiatry Associates team may also recommend medication to help manage pain and inflammation.
While surgery isn’t the first line of defense against bunions, there is a time and place for it. If you’ve already tried conservative treatments and can’t find the relief you need, our team may recommend surgery.
Surgery tackles the root cause of bunions and corrects the misalignment in your joint. During surgery, your surgeon realigns your bones and removes excess tissue.
So, why do bunions form? They can develop due to factors like footwear choice, genetics, and underlying health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. While you can't always control the risk factors, you can take steps to manage bunions and reduce their impact on your life.
At Manhattan Podiatry Associates, our experienced team provides expert diagnosis and treatment for bunions at our convenient Midtown and Downtown New York City locations. If you're experiencing bunion pain or discomfort, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Call our Midtown office at (845) 539-1848 or our Downtown office at (845) 704-4692.
