Is it arthritis or a bunion?

There’s one question we hear over and over – perhaps more than any other question: “Is what I have a bunion or arthritis?”

If you’ve found yourself asking this question at any point, this article might be able to provide you with some useful information. However, in order to get a proper diagnosis, we recommend that you pay a visit to your podiatrist.

Arthritis in the big toe joint, a condition that at the onset is called Hallux Limitus, typically affects women the most. Those afflicted sometimes show signs of the condition as early as their ’30s. Hallux Limitis’ symptoms can often resemble those of bunions. It can result in an enlarged big toe joint and – believe it or not – can be hereditary due to structural abnormalities in the foot. As the arthritis progresses, the foot may experience stiffness and a decrease in the range of motion in the joint. This may become more limiting and the pain can eventually increase, leading to what would at that point be called Hallux Rigidus. And as if that wasn’t enough, as an added bonus, the condition can also end up with the development of bone spurs.

If you’re familiar with the effects of bunions, all this probably sounds very familiar to you. Truthfully, it is much like the discomfort most bunion sufferers experience – so what’s the difference?

Here are a few indications that the pain you are feeling is the result of arthritis and not a bunion:

• The bump is not only on the inside of the foot at the big toe joint, but also on top of the joint.
• Swelling and pain occurs mostly after exercise or increased activity (due to pushing off of the big toe joint at the end of a gait cycle), which makes walking (and certainly running) more painful.
• Inability to move the big toe joint up and down without pain.

However, not all of Hallux Limitus’ symptoms are the same as those of bunions. Unlike bunions, contributing factors to Hallux Limitus may include flat feet, Morton’s toe (which is when your second toe is longer than the big toe) and/or acute trauma to the big toe. Such trauma can include a fracture or repeat trauma to the big toe.

On the other hand, treatment of Hallux Limitus is similar to that for bunions. The possible treatments are listed below, starting with most conservative and ending with the dreaded surgery option:

• Stretching of the big toe
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Sleeves that can protect the inflamed area from rubbing against your footwear
• Modified shoes
• Orthotics
• Surgery

Are you starting to lean one way or the other regarding your foot condition? Well, make sure you don’t rely on self-diagnosis when it comes to that affliction. A physical exam by your podiatrist and an X-ray of your foot will confirm the diagnoses and help determine the best path of treatment whether it is in fact a bunion or arthritis or something else.

We hope this article was helpful in our quest for information – good luck!