When young women notice that their big toe is turning inward they do not pay much attention to it. They presume everything will be OK where the fact is that it will not. This is usually the first sign that you are getting a bunion.
Many women suffer from bunions for years; Up to 4.5 million people can suffer from this condition annually. It all starts with the type of shoes you are wearing; Like wearing slender tight fitting shoes with no arch support and high heels excessively.
I have seen many people who have noticed their large toe moving inwards, however they have done nothing to correct it. They have continued to wear their high heels until it finally becomes unbearable, not simply to wear their heels but to wear most types of shoes. Both sexes are susceptible to bunions, however women suffer a lot more as a result of their love of heels.
Doctors say they see bunions in patients of all ages, even those as young as eight. Symptoms to watch out for are aches within the joint of the massive toe when walking or standing, red bump on the aspect of the massive toe, pain aggravated by pressure from shoes and there before the huge toe turning toward the opposite toes.
As soon as you see symptoms see your doctor because if you catch it early enough, you will stop or abate the deformity by doing strengthening exercises. Using an orthotic insert will help to carry the foot up to where it should be.
What is a bunion?
A bunion is when your big toe slowly dislocates from the joint and it moves inwards towards the other toes. The bump you see is the joint sticking out as a result of the metatarsal bone moving away from the foot. Many people think bunions are hereditary but it's the structure of the foot that makes people more prone to bunions which are hereditary.
A bunion can be caused by things like flat feet, the structure of your foot or a foot injury. It can also be bought on the shoes you wear; Wearing high heel shoes excessively will accelerate the condition, as will wearing narrow shoes with little or no support. (Ie flip flops).
To live with bunions:
Wear comfortable shoes that match the shape of your foot.
Wear wide fitting shoes.
Apply a bunion pad around the bony area to help protect it.
If your bunion is painful use ice packs a few times a day which will reduce swelling.
Avoid high-heeled, narrow shoes.
Before surgery, there are other things you can try.
The most important thing is the type of shoe you wear. The best type is a wide, smooth shoe with good arch support. Collapsing of the arch means you will get bunions quicker.
Flip-flops are the worst type of footwear for people with bunions; Also avoid shoes with a heel of more than two inches and shoes that are narrow in the front.
You can also try pads or splints which do not correct the bunion but can ease the pain, or orthotics, which are custom-molded plates for the shoe, that control the motion of the foot and prevent the metatarsal bone from moving away from the toes .
If we see a bunion starting in a young person, try orthotics straightaway to try to avoid surgery. Seek professional podiatric assistance if your bunions are uncomfortable or noticeable.
On an initial visit your doctor does a gait evaluation first to look for the mechanism that is causing the bunion and then look for ways to address it. Of the hundreds of people they treat for this common foot problem, a few do opt for surgery.
Plenty of people's bunions cause them no problems in their own life. For those people who find their bunion is interfering with day to day activates; Or if it's starting to push on the second toe (which can lead to hammer toe of the second toe) then surgery is the answer.
There are a hundred different types of bunion operations that are performed. The type of operation needed is decided after looking at what x-rays show concern the structure of a person's foot. Some surgeries will involve breaking the metatarsal bone, the bump is then removed and the soft tissue and joint are realigned. Generally a pin is inserted to keep the bone in place.