Bunions (Hallux abducto Valgus)

A bunion (from the Latin "bunion," meaning enlargement) is a bony lump or tissue around the joint.  The enlargement occurs either at the base of the great toe or on the outside of the foot, at the base of the little toe and is called a "bunionette" or "tailor's bunion."

Shoe wear can aggravate the bunion but is not the cause of the bunion as this is due to inherited body structure which gives predisposition to the growth of a bunion.

Pain from a bunion can be mild, moderate or severe, making it difficult to walk in normal shoes, especially those with high heels.  The skin and deeper tissues around the bunion may also be swollen or inflamed, very painful or in other cases exhibit no pain at all.  The other toes can be affected by a bunion, as a result of pressure from the great toe pushing inward toward the lesser toes.  Toenails may begin to grow into the sides of the nail bed; the smaller toes can develop corns and become bent.