Pardon my ignorance, but I have never dealt with bunions before and am not even sure I am now. On my left foot the bone (or joint) just below my big toe is very red and is protruding. It is tender to the touch, but mostly rather than painful, it is numb. When I touch it I can feel the numbness all the way up into the top of my big toe. Does that sound like a bunion? How is it treated usually? Also, the top of my foot is very sore and I have a hard time walking whenever I first stand up. Could that be related or is it probably something else?

TIA!

Nancy

Nancy,
I'm sorry not to be able to tell you if it is a bunion, as everyone I've known has complained of incredible pain, and your numbness confuses me, but I have no personal experience with them. In a few more hours, some regulars should be up who can help you answer with their experiences. Are you diabetic? Is it possible you're an undiagnosed diabetic? Do you have a nerve injury or disorder?
Bony protrusion, red, tender, painful inflammation, somewhat relieved by rest, are common. Arthritis, bursitis, and gout are possible exacerbating factors. Shoe style and fit affect them. Typical tx are appropriate footwear, inserts, rest, nsaids, ice, steroid injections, and surgery. There are folks here who have been through it all. Read through some of their threads, and you'll find a lot!
Best of luck! :) Kim

Thanks so much for your help and suggestions. It does look like a bunion, but the numbness in it (it is painful too but not incredibly painful as you describe) confuses me. I guess if it doesn't get better I'll just have to get it checked out.

Nancy

Sounds like a bunion to me! I had very severe bunions (the left toe joint was at 45 degrees before surgery), and they rarely hurt me. The red lump sounds very familiar. I did have the numbness you describe. I still do, 9 weeks after surgery, but I noticed last night the feeling is slowly returning!YAY! The pain on ton of your fott could be complications due to the bunion, after a while it kind of takes over and starts to realign the rest of your foot. That's what happened to me, it wasn't the bunion itself, but the complications of it that led me to the Dr.

You sould go do a podiatrist, if just to see if orthotics could be benificial for you. They made my feet feel great, both before and after surgery. You should ask the DR. about shoes recommended to help support your foot properly. Unfortunately bunions never go away, but if you take care of them you might be able to avoid surgery. Kim