Stage 1 Early Signs Of Bunions

Wearing compact and less breathable shoes for long hours puts pressure on your big toe which results in developing bunions.

A bunion is a bony condition that alters the angle of the big toe and predisposes it to pain and inflammation. Understanding the stage 1 early signs of bunions is necessary to manage their care and treatment or else the condition gets adverse that may lead to bunionectomy.

Let’s explore how they form and how to detect a bunion in its early stages to prevent surgical incision and pain:

Why Do Bunions Form

Bunions form due to pressure on the MTP joint where the foot bones align with the toe bones. The constant pressure on the connecting joint or the MTP joint can cause the big toe bone to deviate from its place and move inward with the other toes. 

Pressure and wearing narrow shoes accelerate the symptoms of bunions and may worsen the situation. There could be multiple contributing factors responsible for the growth of bunions which make it difficult to move properly. 

Types of Bunions

Three main types of bunions could be seen in the feet due to different types of pressure misalignments. 

• Congenital Bunions: In some cases, babies are born with bunions. These are known as congenital bunions and are mostly linked to an underlying neuromuscular condition.
• Tailor’s Bunion: It is also known as a bunionette and it forms at the base of your pinky finger and is a bony protrusion of the fifth metatarsal bone.
• Hallux Valgus: This is a bump on the side of the big toe and causes painful movement. Can occur at any period of your life.

Early Signs and Symptoms

The Stage 1 early signs of bunions may include the following:

Pain

One of the main stage 1 early signs of bunions is pain and tenderness that develops after or during the formation of bunions. The feet feel sore and tender after walking. This can aggravate the development of bunions and make it harder to move around.

Bunion pain can be a throbbing pain at night or in cases of inward movement of the big toe, there could be painful sensations along the whole feet.

Skin

A significant amount of changes can be seen in the skin when the bump starts to appear causing redness, swelling, and tender skin. This may lead to further damage and make it difficult to wear normal shoes.

Movement

Bunions can make movements very difficult. Having a bunion can increase soreness in the big toes of the feet and affect mobility. It makes it harder for you to wear normal shoes and whenever you wear them, your feet hurt. Eventually, the symptoms worsen that may cause trouble in walking and running activities. 

Bump

A prominent bump can be seen in the stage 1 early signs of bunions as it develops into a bump firstly when the MTP joint starts getting affected. Soon the protruded bump will start to get inflamed and cause intense pain over the big toe. However, the primary development mainly involves the formation of bumps.

Foot Shape

There could be a significant amount of change in the foot shape as a result of the bunion formation. The bunion moves the big toe inward and pushes the small toes from their places which can affect the posture and the sole of your feet. This makes mobility harder and more painful as the weight distribution in feet is disrupted.

Advanced Symptoms and Complications

Advanced symptoms of bunions can progress if stage 1 early signs of bunions persist for longer periods and are left untreated. Following are a few of the advanced symptoms of an untreated bunion.

Nerve Compression

The bunion can further push the big toe or even compress a nerve in the area where it is located. This can make the feet numb or it can cause sharp tingling pain in the affected parts of the feet.

Calluses

A bunion can cause the rest of the foot skin to get callused at different points over time. Calluses are areas of skin that get rough and hard due to constant pressure at a certain point.

Reduced Mobility

A severe form of bunion can make it harder for the patients to move their feet as movement causes severe sharp pain which is impossible for them to control. The pain often persists at resting position and may interfere with your day to day activities. 

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a condition where your fingers are curled permanently and positioning them to their normal stance causes pain. This condition is often developed with bunion formation due to uneven distribution of pressure.  

Another cause of having hammertoe is that the rest of the toes have no room in a normal shoe. This predisposes them to curl and get stiff in that position. This complication can be seen in cases of long untreated bunions.

Arthritis

Another issue that can be seen in toes after prolonged bunions is osteoarthritis. This occurs because of the stiffness in joints. Arthritis can be seen influencing bunions as stiffness can lead to joint misalignment over time. 

In contrast, bunions can also lead to osteoarthritis if the stiffness lasts for a long period that interfere with the normal anatomy of your foot, put strain over your small bones, and cause osteoarthritis.

Causes of Bunions

Bunions could be caused due to multiple reasons, but certain factors play a great role in their sudden onset. The following factors may exacerbate the growth of bunions and the reason why we see stage 1 early signs of bunions.

The Female Gender

The females are more prone to get bunions than males due to their faulty foot alignment caused by wearing high-heeled shoes at a younger age. This causes extra pressure on their toes and may provoke bunions to develop. It also increases the chances of bursitis or arthritis development.

Genetic Predisposition

Genetic predisposition plays an important role in bunion development and it occurs in many families. The relation is not properly known but, it is said that familial traits such as foot type can interfere with the anatomical structure and weight distribution of your foot. These factors increase or decrease the risk of bunions and display stage 1 early signs of bunions.

For instance, the development of certain bones such as the metatarsal bones can change the shape of your feet and conditions like flat feet can put you at a higher risk of developing bunions.

Shoe Choices

Shoe preferences matter a lot when it comes to the development of bunions. People of different professions wear specific kinds of shoes their whole lives which shape their feet in a certain posture. Being an office worker means needing to wear dress shoes for a long period. 

Due to their narrow toe-boxes, the pressure on the toes is increased, risking the toe’s health and increasing the chances of bunion production.

Bunion Treatment

There are a variety of non-invasive and invasive methods used to treat bunions. This is entirely dependent on the severity of the bunion and how your feet are reacting to the situation. If the inflammation is severe then it is better to go for a serious treatment.

After stage 1 early signs of bunions, signs and symptoms might get worse, and in this case, we need to consider our best options for the treatment.

Wide Shoes

One of the basic treatments of bunions is wearing wide shoes. Wide shoes have a spacious toe box which allows the feet to breathe and allows a relaxed movement experience throughout the day.

Wide shoes have a significant impact on inflammation as it is mainly caused due to narrow space because of a bunion.

Bunion Cushions

Another relaxing thing for your feet could be bunion pads that provide a cushioning effect for your toes and keep them relaxed and provide ease from the constant friction. 

Medications

Over-the-counter NSAIDs can be used to treat the symptoms of bunions such as pain and inflammation. Medication such as ibuprofen and cortisone injections can help reduce the symptoms and alleviate the pain.

Compress

Cold compress could reduce inflammation, swelling, and reduce pain related to bunion formation. Make sure not to put a cold compress for a longer duration may affect your feet’s circulation.

Padding

Shoe inserts or padding of any sort can help reduce the bunion symptoms. Using padding could be a good alternative to changing shoes. Bedding helps with the pressure balance of your feet and makes movement smoother despite bunions.

This padding helps your heels and aligns them to apply the pressure on your feet evenly.

Bunionectomy

Bunionectomy is a procedure in which the surgeon removes the extended part of the tendon that has moved out of its place and words the outer part of the feet. 

If the condition worsens after rehabilitation and medication, the patients tend to consider bunionectomy. You can also opt for non-invasive laser treatment instead of invasive surgery if your doctor suggests. These options provide a quick recovery period and less pain during the process.

Caring for Feet

Caring for your feet is vital to maintain good hygiene and proper alignment of your feet. Before stage 1 early signs of bunions appear, you must start taking precautionary measures if there is a genetic predisposition involved, or if you wear narrow-toed shoes.

Following is a list of things you must do to take care of your feet to prevent bunions:

Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is an important factor in a healthy life. Obesity can be a cause of diseases like hammer toe and bunions. Having healthy weight management may eliminate excessive forces on your feet. 

If you are overweight or obese, your feet have to deal with higher levels of pressure and weight-bearing, which ultimately results in the onset of many diseases like arthritis, hammer toes, or bunions.

Wearing Comfortable Shoes

Wearing comfortable shoes is very important to prevent any foot-related medical issues. Comfortable and wide-toed shoes are the best choice to start from the very beginning. 

Narrow-tipped or tight shoes are not a good option for your shoes as they make your feet sweaty, can cause inflammation or calluses at different places, and can also alter your foot structure.

Foot Exercises 

Foot exercises are a great way to strengthen the muscles of your feet. Foot yoga and foot exercises are a great way to minimize the tension present between the tendons and the muscles, training foot muscles and preventing diseases like bunions from occurring. 

If you have no disease diagnosed, but you feel the constant ache in your feet, going to a physiotherapist and getting a personalized set of exercises for your feet can make you feel better.

Taking Care

Taking care of your bone and tendon health is very important to not get any such diseases. Try to have a good intake of vitamin D, Calcium and Omega 3 in your daily diet or as a supplement to boost bone and tendon health.

The Bottom Line

Bunions often develop when you wear constricted footwear for longer hours. Detecting early signs of bunions help to cure this condition timely and prevent future complications such as bunionectomy. Additionally, taking care of your feet including wearing breathable footwear, performing foot exercises and maintaining good hygiene reduce the risk of getting foot disorders. 

Author Bio

John Locke