When it comes to our foot health, many people assume that if they can simply tolerate the discomfort, then they are no worse for the wear at the end of the day. Unfortunately, a number of additional issues can develop when you ignore a problem with your feet, and that’s especially true with a bunion.
A bunion occurs when your big toe joint becomes misaligned, leading to the formation of a bony prominence on the side of your big toe joint. In the earlier stages, a bunion may not cause any physical discomfort, but ignore it for long enough and it will. Aside from pain, we look at some of the other issues you may be welcoming if you put off treatment for your growing bunion.
What Happens To An Untreated Bunion?
As we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, a bunion isn’t something that’s going to go away on its own. Proactive treatment can help stall or slow the progression of the joint dysfunction, whereas ignoring treatment can actually speed up the misalignment. Here’s what can happen if you ignore a bunion:
Hyper-local Issues – For starters, new issues may develop or symptoms may worsen for the big toe. You may find that the bump grows in size, leading to increased pain and discomfort. This misalignment can also make it more challenging to comfortably wear shoes, and poor footwear can irritate the joint and lead to more joint shifting. A small growth on the outside of your big toe joint will eventually transition into a larger, more painful prominence if you do nothing about it.
Whole Foot Problems – An untreated bunion can also lead to problems for other areas of the foot. As the bunion progresses, it forces the big toe inward, which can end up pushing on the second toe and down the line. This can lead to alignment issues for your smaller toes, further complicating the process of finding a comfortable and supportive shoe. Bunions can also change how stress is distributed across the foot, putting more strain on different areas and causing injuries. Untreated bunions can lead to balance issues or pain in the forefoot or along the underside of your arch.
Upline Issues – An unaddressed bunion can actually cause problems for areas of your body outside of the immediate foot area. As we mentioned above, the presence of a bunion can change how stress is distributed across your foot, but that stress is also channeled differently down your body. As you work to protect your foot from pain because of the presence of your bunion, your gait may be altered, putting increased pressure on upline joints like your ankle, your knee and your hip. These joints may wear down more rapidly as a result of this new stress pattern. It’s not uncommon for patients with untreated bunions to develop discomfort in an upline joint like their hip or knee.
Whole Body Changes – Finally, an untreated bunion can affect your entire body in a couple of different ways. Worsening pain and difficulty finding a comfortable pair of shoes can cause you to become less active, and your body craves regular activity. This decrease in activity can lead to weight gain if you’re not careful, only adding more stress to your feet. Decreased participation in physical and societal activities can lead to feelings of withdrawal and isolation, which can weigh heavy on your mental health, all because you neglected to care for a newly formed bunion.
While these issues can represent a worst case scenario, know that it is reality for many individuals who put off treatment for their bunion for too long. Don’t be one of those people. Connect with a professional in your area and work to put your bunion behind you once and for all. For more information, or for help with a different foot issue, reach out to Dr. Silverman today.