Bunions are a slow-developing condition that occur as your big toe joint slowly shifts out of its natural alignment. Oftentimes caused or exacerbated by poor-fitting shoes, arthritic degeneration or unlucky genetics, bunions tend to progress through different stages on their way to significant joint displacement. In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about the four stages of bunion progression and explain the most common treatment recommendations based on the extent of your bunion deformity.

The Stages Of Bunion Deformity

It’s important to remember that once your big toe joint has begun to shift out of place, there is no conservative treatment that will restore your joint to perfect positioning. That’s not to say that surgery will always be required, but intervention is recommended even in the earliest stages to slow down or stop bunion progression so that surgery can be delayed or prevented altogether. Here’s a look at the four stages of bunion development:

• Stage 1 (Initial Misalignment) – The first stage in bunion progression is aptly named stage 1, and physical symptoms like pain, discomfort or swelling are typically absent. A very slight crookedness of the big toe may be noticeable at this stage, but the shifting may be so minor that it’s almost imperceptible to the naked eye. Most patients miss the warning signs of a stage 1 bunion because they aren’t looking for them and they are very hard to spot. Should you believe you are dealing with an initial stage bunion, pay close attention to your footwear and switch shoes to a roomier and more supportive option.
• Stage 2 (Mild Misalignment) – In stage 2, a visible misalignment of the toe can usually be seen by the naked eye, but that doesn’t mean physical symptoms are present yet, so many in this stage still choose to ignore the problem. If there is a visible misalignment of your big toe, even if it’s not painful, now is the time to act if you want to give yourself the best chance of keeping the condition asymptomatic for an extended period. Again, evaluate your shoe choice and consider other passive treatment options like toe spacers or bunion pads. 
• Stage 3 (Moderate Misalignment) – Moderate misalignment is categorized by a clear and obvious misalignment of the big toe, and this is generally when the problem becomes symptomatic or symptoms progress to a point where a patient decides that enough is enough and treatment is warranted. By putting off treatment until this point, it’s much less likely that conservative treatments will alleviate symptoms. Again, conservative care will not restore the joint to the proper alignment, so at this point you’re hoping to slow its progression and minimize symptoms. Footwear changes, bunion pads, toe spacers and weight loss will be recommended, but odds are they are only delaying the fact that you’ll need surgery down the road.
• Stage 4 (Severe Misalignment) – The final stage of bunion progression is stage 4, which involves a severe deformity of the big toe joint. Symptoms are clear and significant, and they can make it difficult to walk and enjoy life. It is incredibly rare that a foot specialist would recommend anything other than a corrective procedure for a bunion that has progressed to this point, as the joint needs to be addressed and repositioned by a professional. Most patients find that a minimally invasive procedure provides immense relief from discomfort, but they’ll need to adopt some of the conservative recommendations previously listed to reduce their risk of a recurrence.

We want to help you find relief from your bunion no matter what stage it is currently in. Connect with Dr. McDonald today so that a bunion isn’t a problem in the future. For more information, give his office a call today at (860) 244-8889.