Why Bunions Form
Bunions are an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe, caused by the displacement of bone or tissue. Learn about why bunions form in this article.
Symptoms of Bunions
Identifying bunions is very simple because they can be seen by simply looking at your feet. Among their most common symptoms are swelling and extreme pain, but there are other ways of identifying them:
- A firm bulge will form on the base of the big toe on the outer edge of your foot.
- The metatarsophalangeal articulation will start to show redness, swelling, and/or pain.
- Calluses, blisters, and other types of irritations will show.
- The big toe on your foot will have limited and painful movement.
What Causes Bunions?
Bunions form when the balance of force that you put on your joints and foot tendons is altered. As a consequence, there will be a deformation on your foot and imbalance on the joint.
Different studies have shown that bunions can appear because of hereditary factors, the way you walk, wearing heels or other types of shoes, etc. Also, there have been cases of bunions because of foot injuries, neuromuscular disorders, or congenital deformities.
Tips for Preventing Bunions
- You should avoid wearing tight shoes and choose the kind that allows your foot to move.
- Wearing heels or pointed shoes help bunions develop easier because they expose the foot and big toe to more pressure.
- Wearing toe separators helps correct the direction of your toes during the night.
- See a specialist so that they can recommend you a protector with smooth and soft material in order to reduce the pain of bunions and prevent them from rubbing against your shoes.
- Make sure you get enough vitamins A and C, calcium, and vitamin D to strengthen your bones.
- You can buy special splints for bunions, which help correct the deformity in the bone and prevent it from getting worse so that you won’t need surgery.
- Maintain a balanced weight to prevent obesity, which is a problem that causes bunions.
How to Treat Bunions
There are various ways to relieve bunions without surgery. In order to find out what the best treatment is for a bunion, you should identify the seriousness of it and act before the deformity turns into a more serious problem. Below, we will give you some treatments to relieve the pressure put on bunions and stop the progressive deformation of the joint.
Padding and Bandages
For a treatment plan, the first thing you should do is put padding on the bunion. Bandages help keep the foot in a normal position and reduce pressure and pain.
Treatment to Reduce Inflammation
One of the most common symptoms of bunions is inflammation in the feet and pain. To reduce this problem, you can do a very common and effective treatment that won’t cost you a lot and will only take a few minutes.
What You Should Do
- Boil 3 liters of water and then let sit.
- Add 5 tablespoons of sea salt and then soak your feet in it for 15 minutes.
- Another option is to put ice on the affected area. Just put ice cubs in a bag or wrapped in a towel. You should avoid putting the ice directly on the bunion.
This treatment helps relieve problems caused by bunions. It is ideal for reducing inflammation and prevents the future appearance of this problem.
You will need:
- 200 grams of lavender flowers
- 3/4 sunflower oil
What You Should Do
- Put 100 grams of lavender flowers and 3/4 sunflower oil in a metal container. Then heat for 2 hours in a bain marie.
- Once the time is up, filter the oil over a pot, then add another 100 grams of lavender flowers and put it back in the bain marie for 2 hours.
- To finish, you should filter the oil again and apply a few drops to the affected area.