Bunion

Up to 1 in 3 Americans has a bunion –– a painful bump that forms on the outside edge of the big toe joint. At Advanced Footcare & Sports Medicine, on the East Side of Manhattan in New York City, board-certified podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Robert Maccabee, DPM, offers complete care for bunions. He uses a patient-centered, hands-on approach to realign the big toe joint, relieve pain, and improve mobility. Call Advanced Footcare & Sports Medicine today or book your appointment online. 

My big toe joint is red and painful. Is it a bunion?

A bunion forms when the bones at the front of your foot change position due to general wear-and-tear or how you walk. Over time, these changes cause your metatarsophalangeal (big toe) joint to bulge outward, resulting in a painful, red bump. 

Small bunions don’t always need treatment. But if your symptoms affect your mobility or keep you from routine activities, seeking help from a podiatrist is essential. 

What are the symptoms of a bunion?

Bunion symptoms include:

• Problems bending the big toe joint
• Pain or burning in the big toe
• Corns, calluses, or blisters
• Hammertoes
• Difficulty wearing certain types of shoes (high heels, for example)
• Big toe numbness

Bunions typically worsen over time. Don’t wait to meet with Dr. Maccabee if you regularly have pain in your big toe or at the front of your foot. 

How does a board-certified podiatrist diagnose a bunion?

Dr. Maccabee reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including where the pain occurs, what it feels like, and if it’s exacerbated by wearing certain shoes. Then, he examines your big toe and big toe joint, checking for redness, swelling, and corns and calluses. 

Dr. Maccabee assesses your big toe joint’s range of motion and gently presses on your bunion and the surrounding skin to pinpoint sensitive areas. Then, he orders a series of X-rays to check the position of the bones at the front of your foot and to look for joint damage.

How does a board-certified podiatrist treat a bunion?

At Advanced Footcare & Sports Medicine, Dr. Maccabee treats bunions using a hands-on, conservative approach. He might suggest:

• Bunion pads to cushion the area and reduce pain
• Medical tape to keep your toe in the proper position
• Wearing shoes with a wide toe box
• Custom orthotics
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Physical therapy
• Corticosteroid injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Stem cell injections

If these treatments don’t improve your mobility and relieve pain, you might benefit from minimally invasive bunion surgery. During surgery, Dr. Maccabee removes the bunion and realigns the bones at the front of your foot. 

Minimally invasive bunion surgery results in smaller scars, less pain, and shorter hospital stays.

Call Advanced Footcare & Sports Medicine today to explore bunion treatment, or book your appointment online.