Bunions are not just unattractive—they can also cause pain and even affect your ability to walk, exercise, and even drive in severe cases. If a bunion is large enough, it can even make it difficult to fit into your shoes! In most cases, bunions can be managed and treated conservatively with just a few lifestyle adjustments and modifications. Unfortunately, bunions can also get progressively worse over time, causing pain and putting you at risk for joint damage. Here at Affiliated Podiatrists, Ltd. in Chicago, IL, our podiatrists offer diagnostic and treatment options for bunions and other foot and ankle injuries and conditions—read on to learn how we can help your condition.

What Exactly is a Bunion?

Bunions are caused by damage to the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, and manifest themselves as bumps at the base of the big toe, sometimes going so far as to curve the big toe away from the joint and towards the other toes. Bunions can be painful and cause symptoms such as swelling, redness, calluses, and corns due to the friction between the bunion and your shoes. Arthritis in the MTP joint can also limit your range of motion and make movement painful.

What Causes Bunions?

Anyone can develop a bunion without an obvious underlying reason, but there are some factors that can increase your risk and make you more susceptible to bunions. Some of the biggest risk factors include:

• Wearing high heels and narrow shoes that crowd the toes
• Spending a lot of time on your feet
• Heredity and family history
• Have flat feet/low arches
• An injury to the joint
• Arthritis

How We Can Help

Generally, depending on the size of the bunion and the severity of your symptoms, our podiatrists initially recommend conservative treatments such as applying ice, taking medication (ibuprofen or cortisone), using a splint, or wearing supportive insoles/orthotics. However, if you have extensive joint damage, surgery is sometimes recommended to remove damaged tissue and repair the joint. To decide which treatment is best for your situation, we will examine your bunion during a consultation at one of our Chicago offices. At this point, we will then discuss your options with you in order to determine the best course of action.

Contact Us

For more information about your risk for developing bunions and the treatment options available to you, contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Ltd. by dialing (773) 202-8800 or (773) 696-4700 to schedule an appointment at one of our two Chicago locations.

How your podiatrists in Chicago, IL, can help with bunion pain

Bunions can make it difficult to go about your day. Bunions appear as hard, bony lumps on the side of your big toe, and are usually caused by wearing shoes that are too narrow, as they cause your toes to crush together. High heels add to the problem by pushing your toes forward, which is why bunions are more common in women. With two convenient office locations in Chicago, IL, the podiatrists at Affiliated Podiatrists can treat your bunions and relieve your pain. Read on to learn more about bunions, and call Affiliated Podiatrists for direct treatment!

More about Bunions

Narrow footwear isn’t the only factor that causes bunions. They can also be caused by a genetic bone deformity in your feet, a foot injury or trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, or foot stress at work or from your activities.

For small bunions and minor bunion pain, you may get relief from a few simple treatments you can do at home. You can try:

• Icing your bunion several times during the day
• Taping around the bunion for additional cushioning
• Placing inserts or padding inside your shoes to support the bunion
• Changing to wider, more supportive footwear
• Taking Tylenol or ibuprofen to reduce swelling and pain

If you have a larger, moderate or severely painful bunion, it’s time to visit your Chicago podiatrists. There are several effective treatments they may recommend, including:

• Removing calluses and corns to reduce friction
• Custom-fit orthotics and footwear to add support
• Physical therapy and stretching to maintain mobility
• Night splints to help realign your toe and foot
• Surgical therapy to remove the bunion, known as a bunionectomy

Need Bunion Treatment In Chicago? Give Us a Call!

Don’t put up with bunion pain when help is just a phone call away. For more information about bunions and other common foot conditions, call Affiliated Podiatrists today at either (773) 202-8800 for the N. Central Ave location or (773) 696-4700 for the office on W. Addison St.

When it comes to foot-related concerns, bunions aren't an easy problem to ignore and they don't get better without targeted treatment. They reshape your feet and toes, pushing them out of alignment, and they can cause other foot injuries. Find out how a foot doctor at Affiliated Podiatrists in Chicago, IL can treat your bunions.

Struggling with Bunions 
In their normal state, your feet are straight and flexible, with a slight arch on the inside. When they are affected by bunions, the front of the foot turns out of alignment. Instead of pointing straight forward, the large toe is bent toward the left side on the left foot, and the right side for the right foot. This causes the toe bone to move outward, producing a bump that looks like a growth on the foot. The other toes press together and become irritated or develop calluses. Bunions are unattractive, uncomfortable, and harmful to your feet in the long term.

Bunion Causes
To understand the source of your bunions, start by looking at the shoes that you wear on a daily basis. Shoes that squeeze the toes together or push them forward when you walk are the likely culprits behind bunions. If you have a family history of bunions or foot deformities, you may be more likely to develop this relatively common foot problem. Arthritis, which causes inflammation of the joints, may also play a role in why some patients struggle with bunions.

Bunion Treatment Options
Your bunions can be successfully treated by your Chicago, IL foot doctor with non-invasive therapies and in severe cases, surgery. Here are some of the options that could help your case:

- Adding pads between the toes so that they’ll separate and realign.
- Orthotics to stabilize the foot joints.
- Night splinting to encourage better alignment of the big toe.
- Physical therapy and special foot exercises to make the feet flexible again.
- Injection therapy for pain.
- Bunionectomy (surgery for bunions).

No More Bunions 
Seek assistance from a foot doctor if you have noticed bunions starting to form on your feet. Call (773) 202-8800 today to schedule a visit to Affiliated Podiatrists in Chicago, IL.

The doctors at Affiliated Podiatrists have experience when dealing with bunions and the pain affiliated with them, which is why they provide their patients with state-of-the-art care at their Chicago, IL, office.

Bunions

They are the deformity of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe. This deformity occurs due to the big toe moving out of place and the pain accompanied with it increases as the enlarged joint constant rubs against your footwear. As time goes by, the toe starts bending towards the rest of the toes, sometimes causing hallux valgus (overlapping of the other toes). When this occurs, the pressure and friction placed on and against the toe cause discomfort, irritation, and inflammation. Unfortunately, if bunions are not treated they can cause other problems, such as:

• Hallus Abducto Valgus (the big toe moves towards the second toe)
• Hammertoes
• The skin over the big toe becomes thicker and more tender
• Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Corns and Calluses
• Wearing tight shoes
• Chronic pain

Causes of Bunions

Here are a few reasons as to why bunions occur:

• Flat feet
• Foot injuries
• Neuromuscular problems
• Faulty foot structure

Pain Relief

Your Chicago podiatrists can help relieve your bunion pain using several techniques and methods:

• They may suggest wearing some sort of protective padding made of felt to help reduce the friction caused by your shoes and help alleviate inflammation and skin problems.
• Your podiatrists may opt to remove any corns and calluses that may have developed.
• A good idea would be to wear shoes designed to accommodate the bunion.
• Orthotic devices, which can be over-the-counter or custom made, help support the joint and position the foot so walking and standing are done with more ease.
• There are certain exercises which may help prevent stiffness or arthritis.
• Splints are worn at night, predominantly by adolescence, to help the proper alignment of the toe and joint.
• If the previous non-invasive methods don't work, your podiatrist may advise surgical treatment, called bunionectomy.

For more information on dealing with your bunion and bunion pain, call your Chicago, IL, podiatrists at (773) 202-8800 today!

Find out how we can help you treat these common foot problems.

No one wants to face foot problems, but millions of Americans will deal with common ailments like bunions or fungal toenail infections. Isn’t it better that you are armed with the knowledge to know how to properly treat these issues should you have to deal with them? Our Chicago, IL, podiatrists are here to share the best ways to manage these foot problems.

Bunions

There are various lifestyle changes you can make to prevent your bunion from progressing. Catching the bunion early on will certainly make treating your condition easier. Our Chicago, IL, foot doctors might recommend:

• New footwear
• Custom orthotics
• Bracing or splinting the foot
• Foot exercises

Most of the time these simple at-home measures are all that’s needed to eliminate symptoms and to prevent bunions from getting worse. Of course, those who have been dealing with severe bunion pain for over a year that haven’t found relief in more conservative measures may require surgery.

Fungal Toenail Infections

Fungus is all around us, and boy does it love to live in moist, dark environments! So if you don’t put on shower shoes the next time you enter the dorm shower or the locker rooms you may find yourself dealing with a nasty fungal infection.

Unfortunately, fungus that lies under the nail can be a bit more difficult to treat since topical treatments often can’t penetrate the nail to get to the fungus. While we can prescribe oral antifungal medications, those dealing with stubborn, chronic or recurring infections should consider PinPointe Foot Laser.

This laser treatment is able to penetrate the harder layers of the nail to heat up and kill the fungus that lies underneath. Plus, there is no recovery time and the procedure is completely safe. In most situations, one treatment may be all that’s needed although there will be follow-up visits after 4 months and 8 months to monitor your progress.

Your feet do a lot for you; isn’t it time you did something for them? If you are worried that you may have a bunion, fungal infection or other affliction then it’s time you turned to Affiliated Podiatrists in Chicago, IL, for the care you need to get back on your feet again.