Symptoms and Complications
Bunions may cause no pain at first. But as the big toe begins to turn in towards the other toes, people with bunions usually experience redness, pain, swelling, and tenderness in the area around the joint. Pressure inside the joint or from footwear pressing against the bunion may also cause discomfort. As the affected toe curves closer to the other toes on the foot, these toes can become painful as well.
Complications of bunions include corns, calluses, hammer toe, and ingrown toe nails. Excess rubbing of the bunion against the footwear may lead to changes in the skin resulting in corns or calluses. Hammer toe is a deformity of the toe immediately next to the big toe. A hammer toe is slightly raised and points upwards from the base and downwards at the end of the toe. Ingrown toenails are the result of increased pressure from the big toe on the other toes. There may also be a decrease in the amount a person can move the joint affected by the bunion.