Bunion Symptoms, Causes and Natural Treatments

The word “bunion” comes from the Greek word for turnip. It’s now the common name for the type of bony bump that can grow on the outside of the foot because bunions often look red and swollen, just like a turnip.

A bunion (also referred to as hallux valgus) causes the joint of the base of the big toes to stick out and become enlarged. Normally, things like wearing tight-fitting shoes and putting too much pressure on the toes slowly cause abnormalities in the big toe’s joint position. Repetitive motion can also distort or enlarge the joint that connects the big toe to the rest of the foot, causing a bony bump to appear, along with pain and swelling.

Both men and women can get develop bunions, but women tend to have them more often, likely because they tend to wear more constricting shoes. High heels, for example, can squeeze the toes together, restrict blood flow and cut off the big toe’s normal range of motion. Over time, this winds up pulling the big toe joint out of place. Then scar tissue can form and swell occurs, which results in abnormal positioning of the feet.

Bunion Symptoms and Signs

According to the AAOS, common symptoms and signs of a bunion include:

The primary symptom of a bunion is a large bump jutting out from the base of your big toe, resulting in your big toe pointing inward toward the other toes.

It’s sometimes difficult to recognize a bunion and you may continue to bear the pain, considering it part of the natural structure of your foot. However, watch out for the following symptoms to detect bunions at an early stage and take necessary corrective measures.

• Pain in the toes, especially near the big toe. Either the entire big toe joint or just the inner part of the joint can ache when you walk or put pressure on your feet.
• The big toe facing inward more than usual toward the smaller toes. Sometimes an enlargement first appears along with the toe pointing inward before the pain starts to actually develop. When a bunion becomes severe, the big toe might actually start to turn inward so much that it crosses over the second toe and pushes that toe out of place.
• Calluses that develop where the toes rub against each other and hardened skin that forms under the toes.
• A swollen, enlarged base of the big toe. The outer edge of the big toe might appear red, puffy and warm. The larger area around the big toe might also become swollen.
• You might notice a growth or hard enlargement that appears at the side of the big toe where it meets the foot. Some people describe the growth of a hard, “bony” bump that protrudes outward and becomes irritated by wearing shoes.
• Pain when wearing specific shoes that are tight around the toes, but not other shoes.
• The toes having a limited range of motion and feeling restricted.
• In some cases, an enlarged metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint that’s left untreated can lead to bursitis or arthritis.  Bursitis is caused by inflammation of the bursa (fluid-filled sacs that cushion the space between bones near joints).  Arthritis can be
• You might develop a smaller bunion (called a “bunionette”) on the joint of your little toes that appear the same way.
• caused if the smooth cartilage that covers the joint becomes damaged from prolonged pressure and scarring.

Causes of Bunions

A number of factors can trigger the growth of bunions.

• An injury causing the big toe to be pushed toward the other toes.
• High heels or tight shoes that keep your toes bent inward and put considerable strain on your toe joints.
• Bunions can run in the family and be caused by some sort of inherited poor foot structure.
• Foot deformity at the time of birth.
• Uneven legs. If one of your legs is longer than the other, you may develop a bunion on the big toe of the longer leg.
• Rheumatoid arthritis or gout that affects the joints in the feet, especially the big toe.
• Poor form when walking, running or exercising, such as excessive foot pronation.
• Neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy and the Marfan syndrome that leads to inflexible joints and low muscle tone.

Preventing Bunions

• Wear well-fitted shoes with a wide toe area to avoid excessive pressure on the big toes.
• Maintaining a healthy weight can also help prevent bunions from forming.
• Wear supportive shoes or use arch supports to prevent excessive pronation while walking or running.
• If bunions run in your family, it is advisable to get your feet examined by a podiatrist at an early age to slow down or stop the development of bunions.

Home Treatments for Bunions

A few home remedies can help you get rid of a bunion if used during the early stages. However, severe cases may require surgery to completely remove the bunion.

Read on to learn four home remedies to get rid of bunions.

Method 1: Turmeric

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin that is anti-inflammatory in nature. Oral consumption or topical application of turmeric can help reduce the inflammation as well as block the pain of bunions.

Ingredients:

• Turmeric powder (anti-inflammatory) – ½ teaspoon
• Olive oil (improves circulation) – 1 teaspoon

How to prepare and use the mixture

• Put ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder in a bowl.
• Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the turmeric.
• Mix the ingredients well.
• Apply the paste directly on the bunion.
• Leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water.
• You should feel some instant pain relief. Repeat the remedy 2 or 3 times daily to get rid of bunions in 4 to 6 weeks.

Also, you can stir 1 teaspoon of turmeric into a glass of lukewarm water or milk, and drink it twice daily until the bunion is gone.

Method 2: Oil Massage

Massaging your feet, toes and around the bunion can help improve circulation and increase the blood flow around the inflamed joint, eventually reducing the size of the bunion. Massaging also allows the synovial fluid to move around the joint and dissolve the excess calcium hardened in the bunion, shrinking its size.

Olive Oil;

You can use olive, coconut or castor oil for massaging. Drink a glass of water before starting the message to hydrate your body and increase your blood flow.

• Rub lukewarm olive or coconut oil on the affected area.
• Apply moderate pressure and massage the side of your foot in a straight line.
• Massage the bunion as well as the base of the big toe for 10 minutes twice a day.
• You should start to feel the difference after just 2 days. You should see visible changes after 1 week. Continue with the remedy for 1 month to get rid of the bunion.

Castor Oil;

Castor oil can also help to get rid of bunions as it is anti-inflammatory and analgesic in nature. Massaging the bunion with warm castor oil will ease the pain immediately.

• Warm up some castor oil.
• Apply the oil on the bunion and gently massage it for 10 to 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can soak a cotton ball in warm castor oil and secure it over the bunion with medical tape for 20 minutes.
• Also, massage the base of the toe to increase the circulation in and around the bunion.
• Repeat twice a day to see significant changes in 2 weeks. The castor oil remedy will cure the bunion in 2 months.

Method 3: Easy Home Exercises

Some foot exercises along with oil massage can restore the flexibility of your big toe and reduce the size of the bunion over time.

Ball Rolling

• Sit on a chair and place a tennis or golf ball beneath your foot.
• Roll it back and forth, especially beneath the mounds of your toes.
• Repeat 5 to 10 times daily.

Sole Cupping

• Sit on a chair and cup the sole of the affected foot in your palm.
• Work your fingers as far as you can between your toes, then move your toes back and forth for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Repeat several times a day.

Toe Stretching

• Grab a thick elastic band and put it around both of your big toes.
• Turn your feet outward until you feel the stretch in your toes.
• Hold the position for 1 minute, then relax your feet.
• Do the exercise for 15 minutes twice a day.

Toe Flexing

• Arching the balls of your feet upwards, press your toes against a hard surface for 10 seconds.
• Flex them in the opposite direction and hold again for 10 seconds.
• Repeat 3 or 4 times, several times a day.

Bunion Surgery And Bunions That’s won't Heal:

According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine (ACFAOM), the natural treatments above should be able to help treat most mild to moderate cases of bunions without surgery. Only very rarely is bunion surgery actually needed? This should be considered a last-resort option and is usually only needed when a bunion has been left untreated for a long time, or if someone is unwilling to change shoes (for example, the person thinks wider shoes are unattractive) or wear shoe inserts to change certain things about the way he or she puts pressure on the feet.

• Surgery is sometimes needed to help remove scar tissue that forms around the big toe in order to improve range of motion. If a bunion has been left untreated for a long time or if someone is suffering from a degenerative joint disease surgery will be more likely needed. 
• Risks of surgery include adversely affecting the MTJ joint and dorsiflexion of the foot, which can affect the range of motion and even athletic/dance abilities. However, sometimes they are the only option if the bunion becomes serious enough.
• Talk to your doctor about receiving a custom orthotic/shoe insert to try first before taking other measures. You might also try wearing a small toe spacer that is placed between your toes to keep your big toe in a straighter position while you sleep.
• The sooner you receive treatment for a bunion you notice, the better your chances are for relief. The ACFAOM states on their website that “The earlier treatment begins, the better the chances are for a full recovery with minimal or no invasion”.
• Keep in mind that bunions won’t go away on their own the majority of the time. They are a treatable condition according to experts but the early action is important, as well as patience and being willing to try new approaches.

References:

www.draxe.com/bunion/

www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-bunions-basics