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Your feet take a beating regularly, especially when you're on them for most of the day. Over time, the stress on the feet can lead to various conditions, including heel pain, bunions, and Achilles tendinitis.
Bunions are a prevalent foot deformity that affects the big toe joint but can also occur on the small toe side of the foot. A bunionette is a bunion that forms on the pinky toe instead of on the big toe.
Both bunions and bunionettes can lead to pain and trouble walking, which is why the Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute team and Dr. Jefferey E. McAlister provide many different treatments for relief.
Dr. McAlister offers conservative and surgical treatments to relieve both types of bunions. If you require surgery, he offers the innovative 3D Lapiplasty procedure for optimal results.
Bunions are a prevalent foot issue that causes a bony protrusion on the outside of the big toe joint. However, the problem isn't the bump itself; it actually lies in the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, the larger of the two joints in the big toe.
The signature aspect of the bunion is the bump that develops on the outside of the big toe. The bump forms when the bones in the joint move out of their normal alignment, causing the big toe to move toward the second toe.
As the deformity worsens, the bump becomes more prominent, inflamed, and irritated by your shoes and how you walk. Unfortunately, bunions are a progressive problem that worsen without intervention.
Symptoms may start mild and progressively get worse over time. You may notice redness and pain on the outside of the big toe, along with stiffness in the joint.
Bunions develop in particular in people with inherited foot structures who are more prone to move abnormally, allowing the joint to move. Even with the proper care, you could develop a bunion if you have the genetic predisposition.
Unlike a bunion, a bunionette forms on the other side of the foot, near the pinky toe. Like a bunion, the metatarsal bone pushes out of alignment, forming a bump on the outside of the small toe.
Like a bunion, a bunionette often forms due to a faulty foot structure that allows the bone to move out of alignment over time. Although you can try to avoid a bunionette, genetics make it hard to avoid over time.
Symptoms of a bunionette may be milder than those of a bunion, mainly because the bump is smaller than that of a bunion. However, you may notice redness, swelling, and pain as the bunionette progresses.
The symptoms of a bunionette often worsen when you wear shoes with a narrow toe box, which rub on the bump, causing more pain and irritation.
The most significant differences between a bunionette and a bunion are the size of the deformity, the side of the foot it develops on, and the frequency at which it happens. People are more likely to get bunions than bunionettes.
Because of the size of the joint and deformity, recovery time, if surgery is necessary, is also quicker for a bunionette than a bunion.
Treatment for bunions and bunionettes are very similar because the same issues worsen the conditions and their symptoms. Dr. McAlister evaluates your symptoms, foot, and specific needs to develop a treatment plan that addresses your concerns.
Mild-to-moderate bunions and bunionettes typically require conservative treatments. A few of the therapies we suggest include:
Conservative treatments don't fix the bunion; they provide relief and may prevent the deformity from worsening. If you don't get relief, or if the bunion is severe and affecting your daily activities, Dr. McAlister may suggest surgery.
Surgery aims to realign the joint and secure it in place to prevent the bunion or bunionette from reforming. Dr. McAlister offers the cutting-edge 3D Lapiplasty procedure for better results and quicker recovery than traditional bunion surgery.
To get expert treatment for bunions and bunionettes, don't hesitate to call Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute today to schedule an appointment. You may also request a consultation right here on our website.
