About Bunions (Hallux Valgus)

A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. It forms when your big toe pushes against your next toe, forcing the joint of your big toe to get bigger and stick out. The skin over the bunion might be red and sore. Wearing tight, narrow shoes might cause bunions or make them worse. Bunions also can develop as a result of an inherited structural defect, stress on your foot or a medical condition, such as arthritis. Smaller bunions (bunionettes) can develop on the joint of your little toe.abı yazınız

Wear wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) to the bunion for up to 5 minutes at a time try bunion pads (soft pads you put in shoes to stop them rubbing on a bunion) – you can buy these from pharmacies take paracetamol or ibuprofen try to lose weight if you're overweight.

And Please Don't wear high heels or tight, pointy shoes

A bunion is a deformity of the big toe. People with a bunion have a toe that points outward, as well as a bump on the inner side of the foot. As the bunion becomes more prominent, pain can develop. Learn what causes bunions and what can be done if you have a bunion.

Bunion Causes

Bunions are a common problem that can cause foot pain and difficulty wearing shoes. Bunions occur in about 30 percent of the population of most Western countries. They are seen most commonly in women and become more common as people get older.

About Your Parents

Genetics do play a significant role, and people who have bunions in the family are also much more likely to have bunion than people who do not. The shape and structure of your feet are probably the biggest culprits for an increased risk of developing a bunion. You have no control over that since it is inherited and you don't get to choose your parents.

In one study, 83 percent of people with bunions had a family history of bunions. A similar number had bunions on both feet, which points to a cause being the shape and function of their feet increasing their risk of bunions.

About Your Shoes

Tight-fitting shoes are thought to be the cause of bunions in most patients. Shoes such as high heels or cowboy boots are particularly damaging to the toes. These shoes have a sloping footbed and a narrow toe box. The slope causes the front of the foot to be pushed with force into the narrow toe box, causing the toes to become squeezed together.

Depending on factors such as duration of wearing constraining footwear, skeletal maturity, and individual factors, the toes can become adapted to the new position and lead to the deformity we know as a bunion.

Injuries and Inflammatory Conditions

Footwear is not the only cause of a bunion. Injuries to the foot can also be a factor in developing a bunion. People who have rheumatoid arthritis are more prone to bunions, as are people with neuromuscular conditions such as polio.

Contributing Factors

Many people who have a bunion have a combination of factors that makes them susceptible to having this condition. For example, women over the age of forty who have a family history of bunions, and often wear high-heeled shoes, would be considered likely to develop a bunion.

How Much Does Footwear Affect the Development of Bunions

It's difficult to know exactly how important footwear is in the development of bunions, but we know it is the only variable we can significantly control. Bunions are much less common in countries without Western footwear.

Bunions occur in non-Western countries in about 3 percent of the population. In countries with Western footwear, the prevalence of bunions is over 30 percent. In countries where Western footwear has been introduced recently, the prevalence of bunions has risen to coincide with rates seen in Western countries.

Regardless of whether the shoes caused your bunion, changing them can help you reduce your pain now that you have one. Look for shoes with a wider toe box that is square rather than pointed. Orthotics and padded bunion shields can also help.

Symptoms The classic symptom of a bunion is a bump that forms at the base of the big toe. These can also form at the base of the little toe, known as a tailor's bunion or bunionette.

Other symptoms of bunions may include

pain and soreness numbness a burning sensation swelling at the joint of the affected toe increased skin thickness at the base of the affected toe hardened skin under the foot redness bump on the base of the affected toe the presence of corns or calluses movement restriction within the affected toe Wearing narrow shoes or high heels or standing for a long time may worsen the symptoms.

Bunions begin as small lumps. They get worse over time, however, causing pain and making walking difficult.

Although bunions often require no medical treatment, see your doctor or a doctor who specializes in treating foot disorders (podiatrist or orthopedic foot specialist) if you have: Persistent big toe or foot pain A visible bump on your big toe joint Decreased movement of your big toe or foot Difficulty finding shoes that fit properly because of a bunion

Risk factors These factors might increase your risk of bunions:

High heels. Wearing high heels forces your toes into the front of your shoes, often crowding your toes.

Ill-fitting shoes. People who wear shoes that are too tight, too narrow or too pointed are more susceptible to bunions.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Having this inflammatory condition can make you more susceptible to bunions.

Heredity. The tendency to develop bunions might be because of an inherited structural foot defect.

Bunion Complications

Bunions start off small and grow over time if they're not treated. As a bunion grows, it becomes more painful and difficult to walk.

In the most severe cases, the big toe may extend over or below the second toe, possibly putting pressure on the second toe that pushes it out of alignment and against the third toe.

Left untreated, a bunion may also cause: Bursitis, a condition in which the bursa (a fluid-filled sac that cushions bones, tendons, and muscles near the joints) of the big toe becomes inflamed and painful Hammertoe, an abnormal bend in the joint of the toe Metatarsalgia, an inflammation of the ball of the foot

Prevention To help prevent bunions: Choose shoes carefully. They should have a wide toe box — no pointy toes — and there should be space between the tip of your longest toe and the end of the shoe.

Your shoes should conform to the shape of your feet without squeezing or pressing any part of your foot.

For those whose bunions cause persisting pain despite conservative care, a surgical operation is considered for correction of the bunion. The surgical operation to cure a bunion is referred to as a bunionectomy. Surgical procedures can correct deformity and relieve pain, leading to improved foot function. These procedures typically involve removing bony growth of the bunion while realigning the big toe joint. Surgery is often, but not always, successful; failure to relieve pain can result from the big toe moving back to its previous deviated position even after surgery since bunion surgery does not always address mechanical problems. However, proper footwear and orthotics can reduce the chances of surgical failure.

A hammer toe is a deformity that causes your toe to bend or curl downward instead of pointing forward. This deformity can affect any toe on your foot. It most often affects the second or third toe. Although a hammer toe may be present at birth, it usually develops over time due to arthritis or wearing ill-fitting shoes, such as tight, pointed heels. In most cases, a hammer toe condition is treatable.

Your toe contains two joints that allow it to bend at the middle and bottom. A hammer toe occurs when the middle joint becomes flexed or bent downward.

Common causes of this include

• a traumatic toe injury
• arthritis
• an unusually high foot arch
• wearing shoes that don’t fit properly
• tightened ligaments or tendons in the foot
• pressure from a bunion, which is when your big toe points inward toward your second toe Spinal cord or peripheral nerve damage may cause all of your toes to curl downward.

Risk factors for a hammer toe

Certain risk factors increase your likelihood of developing a hammer toe. These include:

• a family history of hammer toe
• chronically wearing tight or pointy-toed shoes
• having calluses, bunions, or corns, which are thickened layers of skin caused by prolonged and repeated friction

Wearing shoes that are too small can force the joint of your toes into an abnormal position. This makes it impossible for your muscles to stretch out. Over time, the practice of wearing improperly fitting shoes increases your risk of developing:

hammer toes blisters and ulcerations bunions corns

Signs and symptoms A hammer toe causes you discomfort when you walk. It can also cause you pain when you try to stretch or move the affected toe or those around it. Hammer toe symptoms may be mild or severe.

Mild symptoms

• a toe that bends downward
• corns or calluses
• difficulty walking
• inability to flex your foot or wiggle your toes
• claw-like toes

Severe symptoms

See your orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist right away if you develop any of these symptoms.

How is a hammer toe treated? The severity of your condition determines the treatment options for a hammer toe.

Treatment for a mild hammer toe

You can correct a hammer toe caused by inappropriate footwear by wearing properly fitting shoes. If a high arch caused the condition, wearing toe pads or insoles in your shoes can help. These pads work by shifting your toe’s position, which relieves pain and corrects the appearance of your toe.

You can usually use over-the-counter (OTC) cushions, pads, or medications to treat bunions and corns. However, if they’re painful or if they cause your toes to become deformed, your doctor may opt to surgically remove them.

Don’t pop any blisters on your toes. Popping blisters can cause pain and infection. Use OTC creams and cushions to relieve pain and keep blisters from rubbing against the inside of your shoes.

Gently stretching your toes can also help relieve pain and reposition the affected toe.

Treatment for a severe hammer toe

If you’re unable to flex your toe, surgery is the only option to restore movement. Surgery can reposition the toe, remove deformed or injured bone, and realign your tendons and joints. Surgery is normally done on an outpatient basis, so you can return home on the day of your surgery.

How can I avoid getting a hammer toe?

The best hammer toe prevention tip is to wear properly fitting shoes. If your shoes feel too snug, go to your local shoe store and have the length and width of your feet measured.

If you wear high heels, the heel height should be 2 inches or less. Wearing shoes with high heels increases the pressure on your toes and causes them to bend. It can also cause the formation of corns and a high arch.