MamasHealth.com Home Foot and Leg Conditions Achilles Tendonitis Achilles Tendon Rupture Aching Feet Ankle Sprain Arch Pain Athlete's Foot Blisters Bunion Burning Feet Calluses Charcot Foot Clubfoot Corn Cracked Heels Diabetes Feet Flat Feet Foot Care Tips Foot Warts Fungus Nail Hagland's Deformity Hallus Rigidus Hammer Toe Heel Pain Heel Spurs Ingrown Toenail Mallet Toe Metatarsalgia Morton's Neuroma Morton's Toe Orthotics Pedicure Infections Plantar Fasciitis Sesamoiditis Sever's Disease Shin Splints Swollen Feet Tarsal Tunnel Varicose Veins Links Email Mama Sex with your ex Shoes: Buy 1 Give 1 Free Foot Massager Getting along with inlaws	What is a Bunion? A bunion (Hallux valgus) occurs when the foot bone that joins with the big toe moves towards the center of the body. When the big toe moves towards the center of the body, a bony prominence on the side of the foot occurs. Bunions are more common in women then men. Women are more likely to get bunions because they often were tight fitting shoes. Bunions are generally preventable and treated by wearing more appropriate footwear. Bunions rarely require surgery. What causes a Bunion? The most common cause of bunions is poor fitting shoes. A family history of bunions will increase your risk of developing a bunion. Some other causes of bunions are: Rheumatoid Arthritis Osteoarthritis Weak ligaments in the feet Trauma or injury to the feet Symptoms of a Bunion Symptoms of bunions include: redness around the big toe joint difficulty walking swelling around the big toe joint and pain along the inside margin of the foot. feet that are too wide to fit into their normal shoes. pain when wearing tight shoes A second toe may become a "hammer toe" Can Bunions be prevented? Yes. The easiest way to prevent bunions is to wear shoes that fit properly. When a shoe fits properly, the tops of the four smaller toes, when resting on the insole of a shoe, should be about level with one another. How are Bunions treated? There are many different treatments for bunions. Medications, such as ibuprofen will temporary relieve the pain and inflammation. Change in footwear is a more permanent treatment that will help the bunion go away. Commercial bunion pads, and bunion night splints can reduce the size of the bunion. In rare cases, surgery is needed.	Sign up for our Email Newsletter For Email Marketing you can trust
	Hot Topics: Mama is giving away Fruit Trees and Vegetable Plants! Mama is giving away Free Re-usable Tote Bags Can you tell your husband to stop sleeping with my wife? Brenda Tells All: Advice Column Aunt B's Gratitude Challenge Personal Story: Memories of my battle with eating disorders Mama wants to help: Food Bank programs and shelter assistance Lucy Goes Green: Burnin' with eco-friendly love Mama's Monday Favorite: Eel River Organic Beef Foods for weight loss
	Information obtained from MamasHealth.com™ should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner, nor should it be inferred as such. Always check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about a specific condition. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use. Contact us: PO Box 2170, Pasadena, CA 91102-2170 ©2000 - 2009 MamasHealth, Inc.™. All rights reserved