Teens with Bunions: What Are Their Options?

The teenage years are vulnerable times for kids, especially teenage girls. Bunions that form at the base of their big toe or on the outside of their foot, known as a tailor’s bunion, can send your teen running from any type of activity or footwear that might expose their condition.

What caused bunions in your teen in the first place? Bunions are most often a result of genetics. If someone in your family has them, they likely passed it down to your child. Poor shoe choices, which are a common occurrence among teens who are looking for “cute shoes” instead of sensible shoes, can also exasperate the problem.

Once the bunion begins to form, the bony protrusion is not only unsightly, it's painful. The swelling, pain, pain, and redness can make walking difficult and/or cause them to stop doing the activities they once enjoyed.

As a parent, you want to do everything possible to help correct the problem for your child, but because their feet are still growing, they have options.

Conservative Treatment

If your teen doesn’t have to live with painful bunions, there are non-invasive treatments available to help slow the deformity. If your teen has a mild bunion, wide shoes, and custom orthotics may be recommended. Toe spacers, splints, or physical therapy are also options for mild to moderate bunions. The bone’s growth plate in adolescent feet is still growing, so most often conservative treatments are recommended.

Surgery

If conservative treatments fail, your podiatrist may suggest surgery to correct the problem. While bunion surgery is typically the last option once all conservative option has been exhausted, it does have a proven track record of a high rate of success and can help your teen gain more confidence.

Our highly trained podiatrist can help come up with a comprehensive treatment plan for your teen and get them back to kicking their shoes off with confidence. Click here to schedule an appointment online or call 336-375-6990.