Teenage girls and women who are self-conscious about their feet may be hiding them for a good reason: bunions. If you start hearing questions from the teenager in your life such as “what is a bunion?”, it is smart to start investigating the matter with the podiatrist. Bunions can lead to a whole host of other foot problems, and the sooner they can be stopped from progressing, the easier it is on the bunion sufferer.
What Is A Bunion According To Medical Doctors?
But what is a bunion? Why does it make women self-conscious and how can it be treated?
Bunions are officially called hallux valgus in medical language. The word “hallux” refers to the big toe, and bunions are a foot condition where the big toe doesn’t line up straight with all the other toes. The joint where the big toe meets the bones of the foot, called the first metatarso-phalangeal joint, should form a straight line with the entire big toe and the metatarsal or long bone of the foot. In a bunion, the big toe starts moving in towards the other toes. There may be some rotation in the first metatarso-phalangeal joint when this happens as well.
This movement of the big toe laterally is reflected by the term, “valgus” of the bunion term, hallux valgus. Whenever you see the word “valgus”, it means that something is misaligned, and moving laterally or towards the outside of the body. If the big toe moved the opposite direction of the other toes, this would be called “varus” and it would not be a bunion.
The answer to the question, “What is a bunion?’ that your teenager asks is this: it’s the bump on the outside of the foot caused by the big toe migrating towards the other toes. This bump may be embarrassing because it can become reddened and swollen. Over time, a callus may form over it and thickened skin on the big toe may also result.
A bunion can develop in one foot or both.
The Question “What Is A Bunion?” Is Followed By “What Causes Bunions?”
It may seem surprising that less than 2% of all people develop bunions when one considers all the pointy shoes that are on the market these days. Doctors report that tight-fitting shoes and pointy shoes contribute to the list of the main causes of bunions. Wearing stilettos are a top reason for developing bunions. But you don’t have to be female to develop bunions; the condition can appear in males as well, especially if pointy cowboy boots are worn most of the time, crowding the toes together, and putting the feet into the proper position to form bunions.
Bunions can also be associated with different diseases, such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, Ehler-Danlos syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and different forms of arthritis. Bunions are often considered a hereditary condition, but you don’t have to have a family member with bunions to develop them.
The good news is that no one ever died because they had bunions, and that there are ways to treat bunions that are quite effective.
Adding Orthotic Arch Supports: An Easy Bunion Treatment
The easiest way to treat bunions is to change your footwear. Shoes are worn 12 or more hours each day of the week by most people, and shoes can contribute to the progression of bunions.
Ask anyone with bunions how their feet feel wearing most regular shoes on the market, and you’ll undoubtedly see a scowl come across their face followed by a glimpse of the memory of pain. The problem with most regular shoes on the market is that they aren’t wide enough for feet with bunions. The shoes have to be broken in, which means a period of quite a bit of pain for the bunion sufferer.
Now mention orthopedic shoes, shoes lined with fleece, bunion pads, insoles, or orthotic arch supports to a bunion sufferer talking about hallux valgus and watch the look on their face change to sheer joyfulness. These types of solutions can take away the pain experienced in the bunion, and result in happy feet.
Below is a list of questions to ask yourself about your shoes and your feet:
1. Are my shoes adequately supporting my feet during the day? Am I energized by the shoes I wear?
2. Do my toes have enough room to spread out and be comfortable in my shoes?
3. Do my shoes have good heel support?
4. Are the arches of my feet exactly how they should be? Or do I have flat feet?
5. Do my shoes have good arch supports? Or do I have orthotic arch supports I can add to my shoes which can provide the support that a foot with a bunion needs?
Answering no to any of the above questions means that it’s entirely possible that your bunions could progress to the point where they need surgery – unless you change what surrounds your foot.
Details You Need For Bunion Relief
Bunion solutions are available. People who have bunions don’t normally require expensive orthopedic shoes. Instead, the use of less expensive bunion pads, orthotic arch supports could be very helpful.
Orthopedic shoes are different than regular shoes. The heel is low in these shoes, allowing the bones of the feet to better align properly. They can provide firm support for the heel as well. Orthopedic shoes are usually created to be wider than the average shoe, especially in the toe area, which is great for bunion sufferers. These shoes often don’t have seams on the inside of the shoe; a great idea because seams can rub against different areas of the foot and cause blisters or open areas which can get infected.
The insoles are usually removable in an orthopedic shoe so that you can insert your own orthotic arch supports or superfeet premium insoles. The beauty of this is that you can then customize the orthotic and make more changes that will benefit your feet. Orthopedic shoes absorb the shocks felt by the feet during walking and also are made of breathable materials. But orthopedic shoes can be pretty pricey these days. And did you know that superfeet premium insoles can also act as shock absorbers, weight redistributors, too – but are a fraction of the cost of orthopedic shoes?
Orthotic arch supports Orthotic arch supports from The Insole Store.com can change the movement of the foot. Flat feet can contribute to the development of bunions caused by overpronation; thus, orthotic arch supports may be very useful.Superfeet Premium Insoles are made of high-density foam and have a patented stabilizer cap that forms a heel cup which supports the heel. Bunion sufferers are notorious for problems with bone alignment, and when the heel is supported, this is a good way to help keep the bones aligned properly. The superfeet premium insoles are a great way to absorb the shock of walking, while also being able to use them in any style shoe. Sole Softec Custom Foot beds are for those that like total support but don’t like the feel of hard plastic in their arch supports. These heat-moldable custom footbeds are guaranteed to improve foot comfort because they allow you take on the shape of your foot at home. Sole footbeds are constructed from three distinct layers, two layers of cushioning foam and a moisture wicking top cover. This is the thickest insole of the Sole footbed line and designed to be used in shoes with removable footbeds such as hiking boots, outdoor shoes,athletic shoes and snow boots. The Powerstep Pinnacle Orthotics is also a great option because the built in heel cradle properly aligns your foot to reduce overpronation while also cushioning the entire foot for extra support and comfort. Reducing overpronation is crucial because it prevents additional pressure from being placed on a sensitive area.The double layer cushioning and shock-absorbing EVA/VCT(variable cushioning technology) foam cushions and supports the entire foot. Available for men & women and can be used in all dress, casual, and athletic footwear.
The last bunion treatment is surgery. There are different types of surgical procedures that can be performed, and most require 6 to 8 full weeks of recovery. The surgeon may cut the tendon that is pulling the joint out of alignment, then shave off the part of the bone that is protruding. A scar remains with the surgery and the redness of a bunion may still be seen in some cases. In the photo here of one 65-year-old man who had bunion surgery, the amount of correction made still left him with bunions!
As you can imagine, surgery may be a solution but it really doesn’t do anything to prevent bunions from reappearing in the future. Also, surgeons like to work on bunions on both feet during the surgery, which makes it even more difficult to walk during the recovery process.
Your best way to find long term pain relief without surgery is with orthotic arch supports and footwear.
For the best selection of Orthotic Arch Supports for Bunion pain relief , visit The Insole Store.com Today!