What do you know about bunions?

Test your knowledge on bunions. Find the answers in the comments section.

1.       Bunions are:

a.       An area of thick skin caused by pressure

b.      A foot deformity in which the end of the toe curls downward

c.       An enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the base of the big toe

2.       A bony bump at the base of the little toe is called:

a.       Bunionette

b.      Tailor’s bunion

c.       Both A and B

3.       Which is not a cause of bunions:

a.       Flat feet

b.      Wearing shoes that are too tight

c.       Friction on an area of skin

d.      Too much pronation

4.       Bunions cause the big toe to bend

a.       Away from the other toes

b.      Toward the other toes

5.       True or false: A bunion can cause a hammer toe?

6.       Symptoms may include:

a.       Pain in the big toe

b.      Red/irritated skin over the bunion

c.       There may be no symptoms

d.      All of the above

7.       If you have a bunion, it helps to wear shoes that:

a.       Have a high heel

b.      Are narrow

c.       Have wide and deep toe boxes

8.       True or false: Medicine can prevent or cure bunions.

If you think you may have a bunion, make an appointment with your physician. He will want to know when the bunion started, what activities or shoes make the pain worse and if any other joints hurt. He will also do an examination to check the range of motion in your toe. Sometimes x-rays are used to check for bone problems.

Image by Charles Chan. ???. (2007). Flickr.