Health Tip: Battling Bunions

Be sure to wear the right shoes

Related Encyclopedia • Athlete's Foot • Bunions • Corns • Fungal Toenail Infection More... Related Healthscout Videos Turbo Booster for Leg Pain Healing Heel Pain with the Topaz Procedure Artificial Artery Growing New Blood Vessels More... Related News Articles • Genetic Approach Boosts Yeast Infection Treatment • Gene Plays Key Role in Clubfoot • Autumn Sees More Women With Bunion Problems • Fall Sports Peak Time for Lower Leg Damage More...

(HealthDay News) -- A bunion is a painful enlargement at the joint of the big toe, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The skin over the joint becomes swollen and can be very tender. Bunions can be inherited as a family trait, can develop on their own, or can be caused by poorly fitting shoes.

Text Continues Below

---

A key part of treatment is wearing shoes that conform to the shape of the foot and don't cause pressure points.

In severe cases, bunions can be disabling. Several types of surgery are available that can relieve the pain and improve the foot's appearance.

-- Anne Thompson