FACTS ON BUNIONS
WHAT ARE BUNIONS?
Bunions are one of the most common forefoot deformities. They are painful enlargements that develop on the inside of the foot at the base of the great toe. The enlargement is actually a bone that protrudes outwards and causes swelling and soreness at the base of the great toe. They are also referred to as hallux valgus. Consult your CuraFoot doctor for a thorough diagnosis.
WHAT CAUSES BUNIONS?
Bunions develop slowly over a period of time and are more commonly seen in women. The two most common causes are:
- Women who wear narrow toed shoes For eg: Shoes which have a V shaped toe-box squeeze the forefoot together and this over a period of time leads to the big toe to bend over
- People with pronated feet or flat feet tend to roll inwards when they walk. This results in increased pressure over the ball of the great toe which forces the great toe to bend towards the other toes over a period of time.
Symptoms can include:
- A painful bump on the outside of the base of the big or little toe
- Redness and swelling of the big toe joint
- A burning sensation
- A thickening of the skin at the bunion area
- Corns or callus development where the toes overlap
- With continued movement of the big toe towards the second toe, it is common to find the big toe resting below the second toe. This condition is known as a Crossover toe
HOW TO HELP PREVENT BUNIONS AND RELIEVE BUNION PAIN?
- Painful bunions can be treated by using CuraFoot Toe Spreaders with Bunion Sleeves. They prevent crossing over of the toes and friction at the bony bump.
- Avoid wearing narrow toed shoes. Shoes with a wide toe box that can accommodate the forefoot comfortably should be worn.
- Wearing correct socks can help reduce bunion pain. Socks help in two ways. First by reducing friction on the bunion and the second by providing adequate cushioning. Cotton is a poor choice for people with bunions because of high friction.
- Bunion Splint may be used at night to prevent the first toe and second toe from pushing against each other. This reduces pressure between the toes.
- Bunions should be iced for 10 minutes each evening.
- Topical pain reliever may be taken during the day.
- CuraFoot’s proprietary Arch Support Orthotics which supports the arch and prevents the foot from rolling inwards may be worn. This causes less pressure on the ball of the great toe and prevents progression of the deformity.
However all this will not correct the existing deformity but decrease the rate of further progression. Even after these if the deformity continues to increase and grow, surgery may be needed.
