Toggle navigation

615-662-6676

Our Blog

Posts for tag: Bunions

By Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville
September 09, 2016
Category: Foot Care
Tags: Bunions  

Are you tired of living with bunion pain? Dr. Timothy Bush, your Nashville, TN podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville, share some information about bunions and explain what you can do to relieve your pain.

What are bunions?

A bunion forms when the bones at the base of your foot move out of alignment, causing your big toe to lean toward your other toes. When this happens, you'll notice a bony bump at the bottom of your big toe.

Who gets bunions?

You may be more likely to develop a bunion if:

  • You are female and wear high heels or tight shoes.
  • You have arthritis or a foot deformity.
  • One of your legs is longer than the other.
  • You have a family history of bunions.

What are the signs and symptoms of bunions?

If you have bunions, you will probably experience several of these symptoms, such as:

  • Pain at the base of the big toe
  • Redness and burning over the bunion
  • Corns due to overlapping toes
  • Thickened skin over your bunion
  • Numbness
  • Trouble moving your toe

How can I treat bunion pain at home?

Easing the pressure on your bunion is the simplest way to reduce pain. Buy shoes that are big enough to accommodate your bunion without pressing on it and apply bunion pads to cushion and protect your bunions. Soft gel toe separators prevent your toes from overlapping, reducing corns. Pain can often be relieved with ice and over-the-counter pain relievers.

How can my Nashville podiatrist help?

If bunion pain begins to interfere with your life, your podiatrist can offer treatment options that can make you more comfortable. Your foot doctor may recommend a night splint that helps align the foot or orthotics, custom-made shoe inserts that relieve pressure and pain. In severe cases, surgery to remove swollen tissue and realign your bones may be the best option.

Would you like to learn more about the options for treating your bunion pain? Call Dr. Bush, your Nashville, TN podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville, at (615) 662-6676 to schedule an appointment. Relieve your bunion pain with a visit to your foot doctor!

0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Foot & Ankle Centers, PC
December 29, 2014
Category: Foot Care
Maintaining healthy feet and legs is a must-have for anyone, but especially for athletes.
 
Whether you’re an avid runner or your child plays high school football, being active is a wonderful way to stay fit and healthy. While sports have its obvious advantages, there are also some cons to these otherwise fun activities. Sometimes injuries occur during the heat of the game and you need someone to turn to who can help treat your foot, ankle or leg problems. That’s where your Nashville sports podiatrist comes in.
 

What kinds of problems do you treat?

We offer a full range of podiatric treatments in Nashville, so we treat everything from Achilles tendonitis and sprains to Athlete’s foot, bunions and fractures. When you come in with a sports-related injury, the first thing we will do is run certain physical tests to check your lower limb function and to see where your pain originates. We will check your posture and alignment and determine if there are any structural imbalances. We will also obtain proper imaging to assist in diagnosing your problem (i.e. x-rays, MRI, CT Scan). From there we will provide you with a diagnosis and treatment plan.
 

How do you treat sports-related injuries?

Since there are some many different diagnoses, it’s difficult to tell you exactly what treatment would work best for you and your foot problems; however, here are some of the standard rules of treatment that we tend to follow:
  • Over-the-counter medications
  • Orthotics
  • Physical therapy
  • Alternative therapies
  • Surgery

Here is some advice we recommend athlete’s take seriously if they want to stay in the game and off the bench:

Check your shoes: make sure your athletic shoes have good support and fit properly. If you’re involved in high-impact sports, you want a shoe that can really provide sturdy protection for your ankles and feet so they don’t take a beating.
 
A good rule of thumb for runners: most athletic tennis shoes begin to break down around the 300 to 400-mile mark. For other athletes, examine the outsoles of your shoes. If they are starting to smooth over, they are losing their tread. That means it’s time to get a new pair!
 
Condition your body: Even if your sport isn’t in season, it’s important to still keep your body strong and flexible. This means participating in pre-season conditioning so that you don’t risk injury the next time you start playing again.
 
Always warm-up: You should always warm up for about 5 to 10 minutes before getting on the field. This includes a low level of cardiovascular exercise that mimics the movements of your chosen sport.
 
Use proper equipment: Besides shoes, it’s important that you have the proper protective gear for your sport. This includes helmets, padding and face masks. Make sure these items aren’t worn, cracked or broken. They should be in pristine condition if you expect them to provide the best protection.
 

Call Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville Today!

If you’re an athlete worried about aches and pains, then give our Nashville office a call. We know what to do to get you back on your feet and back in the game.
 
Are you a patient of Foot & Ankle Specialists of Nashville? If so, we would love to hear about your experiences below!
0 Comment(s) Permalink