3 Reasons People Get Bunions and What You Can Do About Them

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If you suffer from bunions, you might have a lot of pain in your feet when you walk. This is why some people come to the podiatrist in Austin and Pflugerville, TX. At Jeffery LaMour, DPM, PA, our bunion treatment services can help improve your pain and your quality of life. No one should have to live with the kind of discomfort that comes from bunions. To treat your condition, contact us today.

What Are Bunions?

A bunion is a bony growth that forms at the base of the big toe, where the toe joint meets the foot. Bunions can cause discoloration and redness, pain and swelling, stiffness, numbness in and around the big toe, calluses, and an inability to bend the big toe the right way. If you’ve been experiencing these symptoms, you should seek treatment.

Why Do People Get Bunions?

People can get bunions for different reasons. Some factors that can cause bunions may be within your control, and some are not.

  1. The way you walk. If the way you walk puts unnecessary stress on parts of your foot, it may cause bunions and other problems.
  2. Arthritis. Inflammatory conditions that affect the joints can cause bunions.
  3. Standing for a long time. Standing for a long time is believed to cause a range of foot problems, including bunions.
  4. Wearing narrow or pointed shoes. Wearing narrow or pointed shoes puts your feet under stress, which can cause problems like bunions.

What Can You Do About Bunions?

Seeking treatment for bunions early can help coax the joint back into its natural position. Working with your foot doctor, you can improve comfort and quality of life. Your doctor may recommend custom orthotics and exercise. The most important thing you can do is identify the problem early and speak with your foot doctor as soon as you recognize the symptoms of a problem.

Need Bunion Treatment in Austin and Pflugerville, TX? Call Today

If you need bunion treatment in Austin and Pflugerville, TX, the professionals at Jeffery LaMour, DPM, PA can help. We provide bunion treatment to people who want to feel better and walk better. Call today.

Why Bunions Form

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It often starts subtly—a little soreness near your big toe, maybe a small bump that makes your shoes feel tighter than they used to. Over time, that bump can grow, and what you’re seeing is a bunion beginning to form. Bunions are more than just cosmetic; they can affect balance, comfort, and how easily you move through your day. Understanding what causes them is the first step in preventing or managing bunions in Austin, TX.

How Bunions Begin To Form

At the root of every bunion is a misalignment of the big toe joint. The big toe starts to drift inward, pressing against the smaller toes, while the bone at its base shifts outward. This imbalance creates the visible bump on the side of the foot. For some people, this change happens slowly and quietly over years. Genetics often plays a role—if a parent or grandparent had bunions, you might inherit the same foot structure that makes them more likely. But lifestyle choices matter, too. Wearing shoes that pinch the toes or push the foot forward, like narrow heels, can speed up the process.

Everyday Strain And Foot Mechanics

Your feet absorb the impact of every step, jump, or shift in weight, and that repeated stress adds up. Flat arches, overly flexible joints, or uneven walking patterns all increase pressure on the big toe joint. When that joint’s natural balance gets thrown off, the surrounding tissues work harder to stabilize it—and over time, that extra strain can make the joint angle even more pronounced.

Catching The Problem Early

Once a bunion forms, it tends to progress without proper care. Catching it early means you have more options for relief. Supportive shoes with wider toe boxes, orthotic inserts, and strengthening exercises can all slow down the changes and ease discomfort. For more advanced cases, surgical correction may be needed to realign the joint and restore natural movement.

Bunions don’t appear overnight—they’re a gradual response to years of small imbalances and pressure. Paying attention to your foot shape, comfort, and shoe fit can go a long way toward keeping them in check. If you’ve noticed a bump forming, it’s worth having a podiatrist in Austin, TX take a look before it gets worse.

3 Signs Your Bunions Are Causing Your Foot Pain

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Bunions are more than an annoyance for many people. Of course, the question of how bunion pain manifests is not always straightforward. People may assume that their bunions are the issue when the problem lies in a different part of the foot. Below, we’ll look at three signs of bunion pain and why it helps to consult with the right professional about the next steps to take.

3 Signs of Bunion Pain

Bunion pain typically manifests in the following ways:

  • Pain: Pain from bunions in Austin, TX often manifests in either the ball of the foot or in the big toe. Most patients describe it as burning, shooting, or throbbing, and you’ll likely feel it more when you wear shoes or bend your toe.
  • Swelling: Your big toe may swell and turn red. So even if it doesn’t hurt, it’s important to watch for any signs of irritation. If you’re having difficulty moving your big toe due to swelling, it’s likely due to your bunions.
  • Numbness: If your big toe is numb or tingling, it may be due to your bunions. You may feel this sensation more at night after you’ve been on your feet all day.

What Causes Bunions?

Bunions are thought to be a combination of shoe choice, walking posture, and the shape of your foot. The pressure of all the movement eventually causes the big toe to pop out of alignment. Every bunion puts pressure on the joint, though again, that doesn’t mean that the pressure will manifest in pain.

A Few More Bunion Facts

A bunion is one of the most common causes of foot pain, but not all are painful. Plus, the level of pain can range from barely there to nearly debilitating. If you’ve noticed that switching out your footwear to more comfortable shoes doesn’t solve the problem, it’s probably time to see a podiatrist in Austin, TX.

If you’re looking for a pro who can help you sort out the cause of your symptoms and give you a solution, contact Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA, With locations in Austin and Pfluggerville, our team can help you get a handle on the problem.

How Are Bunions Formed?

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HBunions are uncomfortable bumps that most often form on the sides of the feet near the base of the big toe, on the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. They typically grow larger over time, so if you notice a bump developing, you should contact your podiatrist in Austin, TX, for treatment. Note that one form of bunion, called “bunionettes,” forms not on the side of the big toe but on the side of the pinky toe.

The Problem of Bunions

These bumps aren’t just unsightly. They can be extremely painful. They also affect the gait or the foot mechanics when walking, standing or running. But one of the most inconvenient aspects of having bunions is that they make it very difficult to find footwear that fits. This can be a vicious circle because if shoes are too tight because of the bunions, that can make the bunion even worse. Bunions often cause the affected toe to lift up over the abutting toe, creating an unnatural hump that also complicates finding shoes that fit correctly.

What Causes Bunions?

Although there is a form of bunions that is congenital, most bunions are formed from inordinate pressure on that area of the foot. This pressure is most common in shoes that are too tight, or that push the toe into an unnatural position. The main culprits when it comes to bunion-causing shoes are high heels. High heels not only squeeze the toes together; they also lift the back of the foot, so the weight of the body is pushed forward onto the balls of the feet.

How Are Bunions Formed?

Bunions are formed when unnatural bone growth occurs in the area with the extra pressure. This bone growth creates a bump that is often red and inflamed. Essentially, it creates a foot deformity. The first stage in the formation of a bunion happens when the extra pressure causes the bone to be pushed out of place. This forces the joint at the base of your big toe to stick out. Bunions are made of a combination of bone and tissue.

Bunion treatment in Austin, TX, and Pflugerville, TX is available at the podiatrist’s office of Jeffrey LaMour. Contact us for an assessment and to learn about treatment options.