Achilles Tendonitis: 7 Steps to Recover Without Making It Worse
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Bunion Pain Getting Worse? Know Your Treatment Options
If you notice a painful bump at the base of your big toe, you're not alone. At Texas Foot & Ankle Specialists, PLLC, our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. William Arrington, DPM, FACFAS, Dr. Justin Wade, DPM, MS, FACFAS, and Dr. Michael Birau, DPM, help patients find lasting relief from progressive foot deformities. We proudly serve patients at our offices in Mesquite, TX, Forney, TX, and Kaufman, TX.
A bunion is not just a cosmetic issue; it's a complex, three-dimensional structural misalignment of the bones in your foot. When bunion pain starts getting worse, it often indicates that the joint is continuing to shift out of alignment. Understanding why this happens and exploring your treatment options is the first step toward walking comfortably again.
Why is your bunion pain getting worse?
Your bunion pain is likely getting worse because bunions are progressive deformities that naturally deteriorate over time without intervention. A bunion (hallux valgus) occurs when the first metatarsal bone in your foot drifts inward and rotates, causing your big toe to point outward. This structural shift is highly common, affecting about 19% of the global population, with women being disproportionately affected at a rate of 23.74% according to a study published in Global Prevalence and Incidence of Hallux Valgus (2023).
As the bone rotates and shifts, it alters how your foot bears weight. This causes increased friction, joint inflammation (bursitis), and wear on the cartilage. While tight shoes can aggravate the area, the root cause is typically genetic foot structure or ligament laxity.
What are your bunion treatment options?
Your bunion treatment options range from conservative therapies that manage symptoms to advanced surgical procedures that permanently correct the bone structure. For mild cases, we often recommend custom orthotics to offload pressure and reduce daily discomfort. However, non-surgical methods cannot physically reverse or stop the bone from shifting.
When conservative care is not enough, surgical correction is the most effective way to restore natural joint mechanics. A systematic review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2024) found that surgical intervention provides a clinically significant reduction in pain and a major improvement in foot function at 12 months compared to no treatment.
For patients with severe or highly unstable misalignments, we offer advanced Lapiplasty Bunion Correction Surgery. This specialized procedure addresses the root cause of the deformity by securing the unstable joint in the midfoot across all three dimensions. By permanently stabilizing the foundation of your first metatarsal bone, we can help prevent the bunion from returning.
You don't have to live with progressive foot pain that limits your daily activities. Our experienced podiatry team is here to evaluate your feet and design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your lifestyle. To find relief and discuss your options, please schedule a consultation with our team at one of our convenient locations today.
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