With a bunion, your big toe usually points toward your other toes.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
British Chiropody and Podiatry Association.
Fact sheet: Bunions.
Available at http://www.premierfootcare.com (accessed on 12 March 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Podiatric Medical Association.
Bunions.
Available at http://www.apma.org (accessed on 12 March 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

² It may even push your other toes out of line.

Sometimes you get a sac of fluid over the bump too. Doctors call this a bursa. It's like a blister. If it gets

 

 

 

 

 

inflammation
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.

 

 

 

 

 

inflamed, you also have bursitis.

A bunion can hurt a lot. You may not like the way your foot looks. And you may find it hard to buy shoes that fit and don't rub.

You may notice that the area around your bunion:

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Bunions.
Available at http://www.footphysicians.com (accessed on 12 March 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

³

But you may not get these symptoms. Some people have big bunions that don't hurt but make it hard to wear shoes. Other people have small bunions that hurt a lot. You may also get other symptoms with bunions:

Bunions usually get worse if you don't treat them. If your bunion gets too bad, you may have problems walking.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Academy of Orthopaediac Surgeons.
Bunions.
Available at http://www.orthoinfo.aaos.org (accessed on 12 March 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

⁴ A study of older people with foot problems found they walked more slowly and didn't have such good balance.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Menz HB, Lord SR.
Foot pain impairs balance and functional ability in community-dwelling older people.
Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 2001; 91: 222-229.

 

 

 

 

 

⁵

And you may get arthritis in your big toe joint. This happens because the bunion puts extra wear and tear on the

 

 

 

 

 

cartilage
Cartilage is a rubbery type of tissue that's usually found at the ends of your bones. It acts like a shock absorber to keep your bones from grinding against each other. It also gives shape to certain parts of your body, such as your nose and the outside of your ears.

 

 

 

 

 

cartilage in your joint. Arthritis makes your joint hurt. For more, see our articles on Osteoarthritis.

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