What are bunions?
Bunion Expert, Guy's & St Thomas's Foot Surgeon, Mr Sam Singh says, "I always advise my patients to wear soft lace-up leather shoes or trainers for commuting to work".
Hallux Valgus
This well known deformity, bunions (the medical term is Hallux Valgus) are just an overgrowth of new bone and soft tissue. The actual prominence of this bump arises from the head of the metatarsal bone of the big toe drifting inwards towards the smaller toes. When the foot is squeezed into a shoe there is then an increased outward directed pressure on the big toe that compounds the problem. Initially, the toe corrects itself when the shoe is removed but with time the deformity becomes stuck down and fixed. In addition, the other bones of the big toe push the metatarsal head more into the middle, worsening the deformity. However, only half the cases of bunions are related to poor footwear, as many patients also have a positive family history for bunions.
What simple non-surgical methods can we use to treat bunions?
Appropriate shoe wear is really the key treating bunions without surgery. I always advise patients to wear soft lace-up leather shoes or trainers for commuting to work. A shoe with a strap or laces means that you are less dependent on curling your toes (the site of the pain!) to keep the shoe on. Keep a pair of formal shoes under your desk for meetings. Heels greater than one inch are best avoided as the foot tends to slide down the shoe squashing the toes into the toe box of the shoe. Silicone spacers or bunion cushions may help but can widen the foot further, making shoe wear more difficult.
When would surgery be appropriate for bunions?
If you have tried the above measures but your foot still hurts on a fairly regular basis or if you start to develop
If surgery is required and you would to know more, please see full article here
