Bunions Specialist
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Podiatry Care Plus
Aree Saed, DPM
Podiatrist & Foot and Ankle Surgeon located in Laurel, MD
Bunions are a common and potentially painful foot problem that affects approximately a third of people over 65. Aree Saed, DPM, diagnoses bunions and other foot deformities such as hammertoes at Podiatry Care Plus in Laurel, Maryland. If you have any signs of a bunion, call the practice or make an appointment online today for expert diagnosis and treatment.
Bunions Q & A
What are bunions?
Bunions are common foot deformities that occur when the joint connecting your big toe to the rest of your foot is pushed out of alignment. This abnormality changes the structure of the joint, and over time, a bony lump forms on the side of your foot. You can also develop bunions at your little toe joint.
While many people have bunions without any pain or other symptoms, bunions can become inflamed and painful. In addition to swelling and tenderness, you have an increased chance of developing calluses and corns on a bunion and eventually have reduced mobility in your big toe.
Bunions can also increase your risk of developing a hammertoe — another painful foot deformity. A hammertoe occurs when the connective tissue in a toe contracts, forcing your toe to bend or curl. Severe hammertoes can overlap your other toes, causing pain and balance problems.
What causes bunions?
As mentioned, bunions form when your big toe joint is pushed out of alignment. This could be due to an inherited foot shape, injuries, repeated stress on your foot, or congenital foot deformities. Inflammatory joint conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to bunions.
Your risk of developing bunions increases if you wear high-heeled, pointy-toed, or poorly fitting shoes that push your toes together.
How are bunions diagnosed?
At Podiatry Care Plus, Dr. Saed can usually diagnose a bunion by sight. However, he might also order X-rays to evaluate the severity of your condition and look for damage to the other bones and connective tissue in your foot.
How are bunions treated?
After evaluating your bunion, Dr. Saed creates a customized treatment plan to relieve your pain and restore your joint health. If your bunion is mild, you might benefit from choosing shoes with a wide toe box and no heel. Dr. Saed might also prescribe custom orthotics to support your foot and relieve pressure on your bunion and toe joints.
He might also recommend physical therapy to reduce any tightness or tension in the ligaments of your foot, which could contribute to the misalignment in your toe joints.
In severe cases, Dr. Saed can perform surgery to correct the alignment of your toe and remove excess bone tissue.
Call Podiatry Care Plus today or make an appointment online for expert diagnosis and treatment of bunions.
