5 Foot Problems That Look Like A Bunion But Aren't

Content

• Foot Problems That Look Like A Bunion But Arent
• From The Foot Doctor Blog
• Understanding Bunions Symptoms
• Podiatrists Located In Round Rock, Cedar Park, & Austin, Tx
• What Is The Surgical Treatment For Bunions?

Raise and rest the affected limb, and use a splint to immobilize the joint. Try keeping the joint cool by applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel. When an athlete presents with an acute injury of the first MTP joint following forced hyper-extension of the hallux, the diagnosis is almost certainly turf toe. However, turf toe is a broad category that encompasses different severities of capsular injury, from attenuation of the capsule to a complete tear.

With bunions, a protruding bump typically bulges from the outside of the base of your big toe. There are some similarities between the symptoms of gout and bunions that might lead you to think you have one when you actually have the other. And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms. Podiatrists are essential to helping keep your feet healthy.

Foot Problems That Look Like A Bunion But Arent

There are a variety of treatments available for bunions, depending on the severity of your foot problem. Mild bunions often resolve with a change of footwear, orthotics, and physical therapy to gently realign your toe. In more severe cases, you may need surgery to realign your bones or to remove an excess bony tissue that has formed on your joint. If you develop a bump on your foot, near your big toe, it’s a logical assumption to think you’re developing a bunion. Even if you think that you know what’s causing your foot problem, you should make an appointment with your trusted podiatrist. There are several other foot conditions that can cause lumps to form on your foot.

From The Foot Doctor Blog

We also say that this blood test “can rule gout in but cannot rule out gout”. When these uric acid crystals enter the joints the fun begins. The body mounts a major immune response as these crystals are not supposed to be in there and are looked at like a foreign body.

Bunions can be red and painful, or they may have no symptoms at all, other than their enlarged and unattractive appearance. Bunions are diagnosed by X-rays that demonstrate misalignment of the toe joints. A podiatrist knowledgeable in foot structure and biomechanics will be able to quickly diagnose bunions. Bunions must be distinguished from gout or arthritic conditions, so blood tests may be necessary.

However, gout is also characterized by intense and spasmodic joint pain. People with gout have reported being suddenly awoken in the middle of the night because of the pain in their big toe. What’s more, gout may affect other joints in the body besides just the one by the big toe. Women may experience gout pains in their hands due to conditions like osteoarthritis, for instance.

Are bunions and gout related?

While gout is a systemic condition, a bunion is a localized toe deformity. Overall, both are treated differently. If you have persistent pain and swelling in your big toe or notice a bump on your big toe joint, make an appointment with your doctor.

If you suspect that you have Athlete’s foot, you should seek help from a podiatrist as soon as possible. If you hesitate to use powerful or risky medications, there are self-care remedies you can try that may prevent the symptoms from occurring. Start with limiting your alcohol intake and sugary drinks, and increasing the amount of plain water you drink. Then, avoid red meats and seafood and concentrate on other forms of protein that don’t carry as much risk.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help stop the inflammation and pain. If you take NSAIDs, there is an increased risk of ulcers, bleeding and stomach pain. Colchicine can also be an effective drug for treating gout. However, complications include vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. Colchicine is usually given to patients who cannot take NSAIDs. Patients with hallux valgus often have a positive family history.

In cases of sudden injury or unexplained pain, a person should see their doctor for diagnosis and treatment. A doctor may recommend at-home treatments or other medical interventions that alleviate pain. As a result, the pain and swelling will often gradually build up over time. In addition to pain, a person may notice swelling and loss of mobility in the joint. Big toe pain is often the result of injury or minor underlying medical conditions. Washing your feet with soap and water each day and drying them thoroughly is an effective way to prevent infections.

Incision is very small and is usually less than 5 millimeters. This is the reason why it is also called no scar bunion surgery or scarless bunionectomy. The procedure is often performed as an outpatient surgery, meaning you can walk out of the clinic on the same day of the bunion surgery. At present, there is the newer and innovative minimally invasive bunion surgery which aims to repair the skewed big toe by using wires or screws to keep the bones in place.

We are fortunate to have a strong armamentarium against this condition, with newer agents in development. Cherry juice, which has long been an alternative remedy and which had anecdotal support, now has been studied. At the American College of Rheumatology meeting in November there were two studies looking at cherry juice. It appears that cherry juice may have a small effect in decreasing production of uric acid. It also, possibly through its Vitamin C content, can increase the excretion of uric acid by the kidney.

Splints help to place the toe in a corrected position, while stretching tight soft tissue structures. Night splints are used while sleeping and splint booties can be worn inside a shoe. Taping and toe separators can also be used to achieve the same goal.

I have experienced acute gout episodes in my big toe over the past 20 years but in the last couple of years they’ve become more chronic. Usually, treatment with oral or injected steriod type meds. I certainly don’t want to get to the point of disfigurement illustrated in your clinical photos. It was a major attack that another Dr. Thought was a broken toe. But, when my broken toe did not heal, I finally consulted a Podiatrist. An injection in the joint & indomethecin and I was mobile in less than 24hrs.

Risk Factors

If these approaches fail to relieve the pain and discomfort caused by your bunions, or if the bunion leads to other problems, your doctor may recommend surgery. There are many surgical procedures that can resolve bunions. Other conditions or situations that contribute to bunion development include having flat feet, low arches, loose joints or tendons, or other foot injuries. Eventually the structure of the bone in the big toe changes and gives rise to a bunion.

Smaller blisters are known as vesicles, while larger blisters are referred to as bulla. Although flip flops aren’t recommended for everyday use by anyone, it is especially important for diabetics to avoid them. A diabetic foot injury can easily become very serious, and it may even lead to amputation. Although it may be tempting to wear flip-flops in warm weather, they are not the best choice of footwear for your feet. Flip-flops may be ideal for the beach, pool, spa, and shared showers, but you should avoid wearing them unless it is completely necessary. These shoes do not offer any arch support, so they are not ideal for everyday use.