Health & Medicine
2006-11-01 16:01:00
What is this lump on my foot?
I have a large bump on the inside of my foot that seems to be getting larger, what is it, and can it be removed?
ANSWER: A bunion is a bony prominence, along the inside of the foot, at the base of the big toes. This “bump” represents a misalignment of the big toe joint. Bunions commonly occur on both feet, but one foot may be more severe than the other. They tend to be hereditary but can occur without a family history. They are not caused by poor shoe gear, but are often aggravated by the shoe. This deformity is cause by abnormal foot function. A foot that rolls in excessively (pronates excessively) allows abnormal stress to go through the big toe joint to cause the deformity. This is a progressive deformity. The deformity never gets better, only worse.
Conservative care consists of decreasing the pressure on the bony prominence by a wider or softer shoe or padding around the deformity. Sometimes good arch support of an orthotic will improve foot function enough to decrease the irritation of the deformity and slow down its progression. If conservative care is not successful, then surgical straightening is the treatment choice. Surgical treatment revolves around realigning the structural deformity. The bony prominence is removed and the joint is realigned. The type of procedure and the length of recovery are determined by the severity of the deformity.
In order for your surgeon to establish a diagnosis and determine the severity of the deformity, a health history, physical examination, and x-rays are necessary to evaluate the extent of your bunion deformity. Depending on your individual needs as well as your overall medical condition, your surgeon will recommend the best treatment regimen for you.
