The appearance of a bone on the thumb initially attracts attention only as a cosmetic defect. But the problem is much more serious than it might seem at first glance.
At the very beginning, the disease occurs without particularly pronounced symptoms: the pain in the foot that occurs towards the end of the day is disturbing, which is attributed to ordinary fatigue. Treatment of feet at this stage comes down to relaxing foot baths and rubbing various oils into the foot. Such actions really bring relief and eliminate discomfort.
Within two weeks, along with swelling at the site of formation of the future bone, a curvature of the thumb “pleases” the eye with its appearance.
Doctors divide the disease into several stages:
The first stage of the disease is successfully treated with traditional methods. The more advanced the disease, the more radical measures are required to get rid of it.
In fact, bunions are a disease called hallux valgus in the medical world. And like any other disease, it has its own symptoms, causes, complications and treatment methods.
Representatives of the fairer sex are more susceptible to unpleasant problems than men. This is explained by the greater strength and elasticity of male ligaments. In representatives of the stronger sex, hallux valgus is most often the result of injury.
Things are completely different for women. Heredity plays a big role in the appearance of bunions on the toes: a grandmother and mother who suffer from the appearance of bunions on their feet will most likely give a similar illness to their daughter and granddaughter.
Heredity is not always decisive in the appearance of bones on the fingers. Often the disease occurs as a consequence of another illness.
Causes of bunion growth:
There are currently a huge number of ways to get rid of a bone. These are orthopedic products, folk recipes, surgical methods. At any stage of the disease, the correctly chosen tactics for removing bunions will be effective.
Orthopedic devices include: insoles, instep supports, interdigital bolsters, special shoes, splints.
At the initial stage of the appearance of bunions on the toes, such treatment is most effective.
The insoles normalize the position of the foot and distribute the load evenly. Their use removes excess “burden” from the legs and spine. The appearance of the insoles is quite attractive: they are thin and can be used for any shoe. The effect of wearing orthopedic insoles bought at random is minimal. Such a remedy is selected individually for the foot by a doctor.
Arch supports and interdigital rollers for removing bones visually align the foot and evenly distribute the load on the forefoot.
A corrective splint is the most effective method for removing a bunion. Long-term wearing of a splint, even at the third stage of the disease, ensures gradual restoration of the structure of the foot. Splints are also used after surgery to remove bones, as a means of preventing relapses of the disease.
A slight deformity of the foot with a poorly defined bone can be successfully corrected with orthopedic shoes . Such shoes are especially effective for preventing bunions in children and in the initial stages of the disease.
In the case of severe pain, when conservative methods do not produce results and the patient’s quality of life is significantly reduced due to bunions, surgical treatment is indicated. Also, when the disease has reached stage IV of development, removing a bone on the leg can only be done radically through surgery. Contraindications to surgical correction include obesity, severe somatic illnesses, and heart and vascular diseases. There are many types of operations to remove a bunion. The number of surgical methods for removing a bunion is currently around 150.
Traditional medicine over many centuries has been replenished with a huge number of recipes for correcting bunions and treating them at home. The most widespread recommendations are using alcohol tincture of iodine:
Remember that when self-medicating, you need to be extremely careful. It’s best to seek help from a specialist! These traditional medicine tips have not been tested by the author in practice, so they cannot guarantee a solution to the problem.
If you know proven methods, describe them in the comments to the article, so you can help many with your advice.
Measures to prevent the appearance of bunions are based on knowledge of the cause of the disease. Prevention of the disease consists of the following measures:
Traditional medicine has long been treating diseases when a bone grows on the foot, and what to do about it is no longer a rhetorical question without an answer. Science is well aware of the reasons why a bunion appears and how to treat it. Many well-studied techniques can quickly get rid of the disease.
“Bumps” or “bones” on the toes are a common concept among patients suffering from static deformities of the forefoot, such as transverse flatfoot and hallux valgus.
As a rule, patients consider their main problem to be the presence of gradually enlarging bone formations in the area of the first metatarsophalangeal joint - “bumps” or “bones”, but this is far from the case. Hallux valgus can limit the patient's physical activity and, in some cases, cause psychological problems.
The presence of valgus deviation of the first finger is far from the only disorder detected during examination in such patients. As a rule, it is combined with deviation of the first metatarsal bone to the medial side, subluxation of the base of the main phalanx of the first toe, hammertoe deformity of the other toes, subluxation of the sesamoid bones, etc.
Among the most common external causes of the development of bunions or bunions on the feet is the use of narrow, high-heeled shoes . Scientists have noted a high association with the presence of Hallux valgus in American women in their 4th to 6th decades of life who use a certain type of shoe. According to other researchers, the prevalence of hallux valgus in Japanese women also increased sharply after the introduction of high-heeled shoes after World War II.
Treatment for hallux valgus usually begins with conservative methods, especially in the initial stages. Various corrective devices are used in combination with physiotherapy, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory therapy. Lifestyle changes—limiting static loads on the feet, reducing excess weight, etc.—become important when treating bunions.
Preparing for surgery
for bunions on the feet
Carrying out the operation when
bump on big toe
View of the foot at a glance
In advanced stages, as well as when conservative methods of treating bunions are ineffective, surgical treatment is used . Surgical treatment may include various options for influencing the soft tissue structures of the foot, affecting the bones of the foot, as well as a combination of both.
Thus, during the surgical treatment of bunions, the surgeon must identify the pathological elements that need correction ( increased valgus angle, intermetatarsal angle, pronation of the first toe, increased medial exophyte and subluxation of the sesamoid bones ) and must be eliminated. Despite the large number of methods for treating hallux valgus, none of them is universal and in a specific situation, when treating a certain deformity of the foot, must be determined by the surgeon based on the clinical situation and data from an objective examination of the patient.
On April 18, 2013, the TVC channel aired the program “Doctor I” in which the orthopedic traumatologist P.L. Zhadan took part. The program touched upon the topic of treatment of flat feet and one of the most common orthopedic pathologies of the forefoot - hallux valgus. The program covered the causes of static foot deformities, prevention and modern methods of treating patients with this orthopedic pathology. We recommend watching the full version of the program on our website.
The presence of crunching in the joints at your age is not a sign of pathology. With age, degenerative changes occur in the joints, changes in the quality of synovial fluid, etc. It is believed that a diet rich in vitamins and microelements improves the condition of the joints.
It is difficult to comment on this situation. You need to address these issues with pediatric orthopedists.
Considering your complaints, you have a complete rupture of the acromioclavicular joint. You need surgical treatment.
If you are concerned about instability in the acromioclavicular joint, it is better to stabilize your case with a hook plate.
To make a diagnosis, radiographs and an in-person examination of the patient are necessary.
Radiographs of the ankle should be taken after the cast is removed.
Moscow, st. Moskvorechye 16
Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia
When the bone of the big toe hurts, this is usually a very painful condition that makes it difficult to choose shoes, or even just walk. In medicine, this pathology is called hallux valgus. Today we will discuss ways to prevent and treat this disease.
By the way, it must be said right away that a bone on the foot is not a bone at all, but a small cartilaginous growth, which in normal condition should support the big toe in the correct, even position, preventing it from bending, and form the foot as a whole.
But as soon as this cartilage begins to grow, deformation begins according to the domino principle: the toe deviates, the foot appears painfully deformed, the gait becomes heavy, and sometimes the person begins to limp. In addition, a swollen joint causes pain and inflammation. But that's not all.
The result of the described pathology is the curvature of all the toes, improper distribution of the load on the hip and knee joints, on the spine, which sometimes leads to complete immobility.
As you can see, this is a serious disease. However, it does not let you forget about yourself. But before discussing how to get rid of bunions, it is worth understanding who is most susceptible to hallux valgus.
It should be noted that mainly females after forty years are susceptible to this disease. Sometimes girls inherit the tendency to enlarge the said cartilage from their mothers and grandmothers. Quite often, flat feet are to blame. But there is the most common reason that contributes to the development of a bunion - wearing uncomfortable, high-heeled and also too narrow shoes.
Please note that the older the lady, the more real this problem becomes for her. After all, women's feet, just like men's, widen with age, but the shoe size, as many people think, remains the same. So the shoe begins to squeeze the foot, and that same cartilage from such treatment becomes more and more noticeable and becomes inflamed.
The foot, of course, as a result of this no longer looks seductively narrow, and ladies, trying to visually reduce it, strive to buy tighter shoes, which makes the cartilage grow even stronger. Such is the struggle between beauty and health!
Typically, this disease causes pain when walking or making any movements. This, as a rule, is evidence of degenerative processes in the intra-articular cartilage. This pain is aching in nature and worsens while wearing shoes, and often it is enough to take off your shoes to feel relief.
The patient may also complain of pain in the second toe. Well, if, in addition to the fact that the foot is “decorated” by a bone, your big toe gradually begins to run over the neighboring one, then the diagnosis, as they say, is obvious, and you should urgently find out how to get rid of bunions on your feet.
But you should not draw conclusions on your own, even if you have, in your opinion, undeniable signs of illness. Visit an orthopedic doctor who will help you understand the true causes of the disease and choose treatment.
To do this, a specialist will conduct a full examination, which will help not only to find out the true causes of deformation, but also to clarify the stage of this process. And this, in turn, will help you figure out how to get rid of bunions in such a way as to interfere with the minimum number of anatomical structures of the foot (in other words, how you can avoid serious surgery).
When making a diagnosis, doctors must also pay attention to the patient’s history of lower extremity injuries, endocrine changes, or arthritis. A three-projection X-ray of the foot is performed, which makes it possible to detect concomitant pathologies: a cyst, inflammation of the periosteum, osteoporosis, aseptic necrosis, etc., as well as plantography (a study of the imprint of the sole).
Selecting the right remedy for bunions, as you understand, directly depends on the severity of the disease. For hallux valgus, it depends on the degree of deviation of the thumb. A total of four stages of the disease are recorded. The first and second are a deviation of the finger by 15-20°. A more serious deviation, from 20° or more, is the third and, accordingly, the fourth stage of the disease.
The last stages are fraught with complications in the form of hammer-shaped curvature of the fingers, the appearance of painful corns and calluses (by the way, prone to inflammation), as well as ingrown nails.
Often, women, having discovered a hallux valgus deformity of their big toe, panic, believing that such a pathology can only be cured through surgery. Yes, quite often this disease requires surgical intervention, but there are also methods of conservative therapy that bring tangible relief.
And only when such treatment turns out to be ineffective, it is worth turning to surgery.
Separately, I would like to say a few words about how the fixator for the bunion works. Such a device separates two fingers, holding the thumb in a physiologically correct position and preventing it from deviating to the side while walking.
The latch prevents shoes from pressing on the bump and thereby stops its growth. And its elastic material prevents chafing and the formation of calluses and roughness. In addition, the material from which such retainers are made does not cause prickly heat or allergies, which is important for daily wear. As you can see, this device can greatly alleviate the condition of a patient suffering from bumps on his legs.
In the initial stages of deformation, the question of how to cure bunions has many answers. One of them is the use of orthopedic insoles, arch supports, silicone interdigital rollers, toe correctors and ties, etc. As you can see, the list of such devices is quite large. And if used correctly, this treatment will significantly relieve pain and reduce the inflammatory process in the bone area.
In the early stages, therapeutic exercises for the feet and fingers, as well as physiotherapeutic treatment, are also necessary. To reduce the inflammatory process, drugs such as Diprospan and Hydrocortisone are administered intra-articularly.
In the article we will also provide some traditional medicine tips on how to cure bunions. These remedies have a serious relieving effect.
But before you start using them, keep in mind that treatment with ointments and lotions, like any other, does not make sense unless you, with the help of a specialist, determine what exactly triggered the appearance of your lump.
No matter how hard you try to treat yourself, the internal problems of your body will cause the bones to grow again and again. And if you also continue to eat fatty, protein and spicy foods, treatment may not begin.
Change your shoes to more comfortable ones, go on a plant-based diet, and only then will folk remedies take effect!
If surgery to remove bunions is still required, do not be afraid of it. Surgeries are offered at any stage of foot deformity. There are about 100 methods of surgical intervention for hallux valgus.
At first it was a banal sawing off of the protruding part of the phalanx or removal of the head of the metatarsal bone. This led to the fact that the finger rested only on soft tissues and lost its supporting abilities.
For a long time, a technique was used in which fragments of cut bone were fixed with knitting needles. After this, the patient had to walk in a cast with crutches for six weeks, and then another operation was required, this time to remove the wires.
Modern methods are not so traumatic, and the patient can walk almost the next day, and after four days he is completely discharged from the hospital. You will still need to wear special shoes or insoles for some time. And particularly advanced cases require osteotomy (bone cutting). For fixation, screws are used that do not require subsequent removal.
I would like to immediately warn you that relapse of the disease can occur in 25% of cases of hallux valgus surgery, provided that you do not take care of your feet. After all, for any disease, and in particular for one such as a bunion, the cause lies primarily in bad habits and a frivolous attitude towards health.
Don't forget that your feet need attention. And be healthy!
Protruding bunions at the base of the big toes do not look aesthetically pleasing and do not allow you to wear elegant or open shoes. But an unsightly appearance is only half the story. In fact, deformed bunions on the feet are a consequence of a disease that in science is called hallux valgus - hallux valgus - and requires urgent treatment.
The formation of bumps on the toes is explained by the inward deviation of the first metatarsal bone. The cone is the head of the bone. In advanced cases, there is a change in the shape of not only the first finger, but also the second and third. This leads to painful sensations. The next stage is the development of the inflammatory process.
There are many reasons for the development of bunions.
People with all types of flat feet are at particular risk. The most common causes of the disease are also: heredity, constant wearing of narrow shoes and high-heeled shoes.
In children, bunions may appear on the legs due to hypermobility of the joints, i.e. their excessive mobility, as a result of rickets, paralysis of the muscles of the foot and leg, as well as a consequence of injury, cerebral palsy or poliomyelitis.
Bunions occur when there is looseness between the metatarsals of the 1st and 5th toes and the heel. A significant load falls on the big toe. The body, reacting to this phenomenon, tries to adapt the bone by increasing the size of the point, since the body pressure is applied specifically to it. Thus, knuckles are formed on the big toes.
Among the factors contributing to the appearance of bunions, one can also highlight excess weight, lack of diet, lack of vitamins E, A, C, endocrine diseases of various types, prolonged and frequent stress on the legs (during standing work, for example), foot injuries.
The advanced form of the disease brings many uncomfortable sensations and significantly reduces the quality of life. Therefore, in order not to trigger the disease, it is important not only to take appropriate measures in a timely manner, but also to be able to recognize its signs and stages.
At the first stage, minor changes in the structure of the foot are noted: the big toe moves by about 20 degrees. Inflammation and pain are not yet observed. The only inconvenience is the disruption of the smooth line of the inside of the foot.
The second stage is characterized by a curvature of the finger by 20-30 degrees. There is a slight burning sensation and mild pain after long walks.
At the third stage, the displacement of the finger reaches 30-50 degrees. In the area of the bone, redness and slight swelling occur, and the mobility of the joint becomes somewhat limited.
At the fourth stage, the bone is already displaced by more than 50 degrees. People often experience severe pain, calluses form on their feet and toes, there is discomfort when walking, and it becomes difficult to find suitable shoes.
The fight against bunions should begin when the first symptoms are detected. You can defeat the disease or stop its development in the early stages using folk methods. Self-treatment of “foot bones” is aimed primarily at eliminating pain and is often based on the use of various herbal remedies, the use of rubbing, compresses, poultices, and the preparation of various ointments from natural ingredients.
For greater effect, it is better to combine folk recipes with a diet that will help you get rid of excess weight and saturate the body with the necessary vitamins and microelements.
One of the means to combat such an ailment as bunion is orthopedic splints. The main purpose of the device is its corrective action. The splint fixes the joint in the correct position. Long-term use of such splints can return the foot to its natural shape.
Orthopedic or valgus splints are prescribed both in the first and last stages of bunion formation. The splint is also prescribed to patients after surgery, since wearing it secures the foot in the desired position and prevents its re-deformation.
Often, the bones on the feet begin to severely restrict movement, and crooked toes force the owner to hide them under rough shoes. Need I say how serious this problem is becoming for women? In such cases, there is a radical solution: the bone is removed surgically. After rehabilitation, a person no longer has difficulty walking, and the absence of bones makes it possible to wear shoes to suit every taste.
The operation to remove the bone is also necessary to restore the shape of deformed fingers and subsequently fix them in the correct position.
On the 4th day after the operation, the surgeon removes the stitches and the rehabilitation period begins, which lasts no more than two weeks.
To prevent pain and inflammation from reoccurring, and to prevent the fingers from becoming deformed again, doctors prohibit wearing heels more than 4 centimeters high for one year. After a year, the height of the heels is allowed to be increased by only 2 centimeters, but no more, in order to avoid relapse.
Dandelion tincture
Pour slightly dried dandelion flowers with iodine tincture, completely covering the flowers with it. Leave for four days. Apply to steamed, dry skin of the legs in the form of a grid. Do the procedure before bed for two weeks.
Prepare several large burdock leaves and pharmaceutical turpentine. Lubricate the outer side of the leaves of the plant with turpentine and apply them to the foot. Secure the compress with plastic wrap and put on a wool sock or wrap your leg in woolen cloth. Be careful not to overheat or burn yourself. Wraps should be performed daily for three months. This recipe is used not only to treat a bone, but also to prevent its appearance.
[attention type=green]!If the action of turpentine provokes strong heating of the feet, then it is better to exclude it.[/attention]
Turpentine ointment
The ointment is prepared from the following components: dry mustard, bodyagi and machine oil (one teaspoon each), as well as turpentine (two tablespoons). Lubricate pre-steamed legs with the resulting mixture, in particular the bone area. Wear warm socks on top. The procedure must be repeated every other day for two weeks. Break – two weeks, then repeat. Such masks eliminate pain, and the bones become smaller.
Dissolve aspirin tablets (5 pieces) in iodine (10 milligrams). Before going to bed, lubricate problem areas on the foot with this solution, insulating them with woolen socks, and putting on warm socks at night. The course of treatment is 14 days, in some cases it can reach 30 days. Procedures are performed daily.
After steaming the feet, apply crushed laundry soap to the large bones. Massage the skin for 5-10 minutes, rinse off the soap and generously lubricate the area with iodine. The procedure is carried out for a whole month.
Large bones on the feet (previously steamed) are lubricated with camphor oil, then with iodine. It is imperative to follow the order of actions: camphor oil > iodine, but not vice versa. The course of treatment is 15 days.
The story of one of our readers, Tatyana Makeeva:
I was especially distressed by my eyes, which were surrounded by large wrinkles, plus dark circles and puffiness. How to completely remove wrinkles and bags under the eyes? How to deal with swelling and redness? But nothing ages or rejuvenates a person more than his eyes.
But how to rejuvenate them? Plastic surgery? I found out - no less than 5 thousand dollars. Hardware procedures - photorejuvenation, gas-liquid peeling, radio lifting, laser facelift? A little more affordable - the course costs 1.5-2 thousand dollars. And when will you find time for all this? And it's still expensive. Especially now. Therefore, I chose a different method for myself. Read the article >>
How to return a girl's light gait, graceful and soft movements, and a man - a confident, firm step?
How to get rid of physiological defects of the foot and give it an ideal shape? Qualified orthopedists at the Odrex Medical House will not only tell you how to eliminate pain when walking, but will also help restore the visual aesthetic appearance of your feet.
Reasons for the formation of hallux-valgus. The metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe is bent due to a violation of its biomechanics, which is associated with the following structural changes:
Shoes are also one of the risk factors for hallux valgus. With a narrow toe, the toes are in a constrained position, and as a result, the ankles are deformed. If the heel is higher than 5 cm, the pressure on the forefoot increases, the toes are literally “pressed” into the shoes, and flat feet are likely.
Fact. In men, this disease is diagnosed only in 2% of cases of the total number. In women, this deformation is much more common and mainly manifests itself in old age.
As a result, due to the incorrect angle of the thumb, the following occurs:
Where can you get qualified help?
In Odessa, the Odrex Medical House employs professional orthopedists and traumatologists who will competently diagnose and prescribe the optimal course of treatment. Here you can not only get advice from an orthopedist and find out why the bone on your foot near the big toe hurts. Here you can correct your gait and fix your foot correctly.
Fact. A ballet dancer is given away by his feet. People who have been involved in this sport for quite a long time suffer from an occupational disease - bursitis of the big toe. Bursitis is characterized by inflammation of the synovial bursa of the metatarsophalangeal joint, accumulation of synovial fluid in the area of the big toe joint, swelling, redness, and burning. Swelling extends to the lower leg; a person experiences pain in the ankle. The thumb steps on the corpus callosum, which is formed as a compensatory reaction of the body. Therefore, the desire to get rid of hardened epithelium using pumice, for example, can only aggravate the situation.
In Odessa, at the Odrex Medical House, an orthopedic traumatologist, after a careful examination and studying a comprehensive medical history, will prescribe a diagnosis.
The primary diagnostic method is plantography - obtaining foot prints using special sensors and determining the reaction of the foot to load.
The next diagnostic method is x-ray. An x-ray will show the degree of deviation of the first metatarsal in relation to the second, as well as the tilt of the axis between the first toe and the first metatarsal.
Fact. Podiatrists are highly specialized specialists who treat the foot and provide recommendations for healthy foot care.
Also, for a complete picture of the diagnosis, the attending physician will prescribe you a computed tomography - observation using X-ray radiation of the desired area of the body in a three-dimensional image and in various sections.
A similar examination, but using electromagnetic waves, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is also included in the series of mandatory monitoring of the body for hallux valgus.
Fact. Spanish proverb. A stream could flow under the foot of a beautiful girl.
In Odessa, at the Odrex Medical House, during a consultation with an orthopedist-traumatologist, the patient will also receive detailed instructions on how to treat a bunion on the leg.
Conservative or drug treatment is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease. It is based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (which reduce pain and inflammation).
Conservative treatment is effective only at the first stage of the disease. With further complication of the degree of hallux-valgus, surgery cannot be avoided.
Surgery depends on the degree of foot deformity and pain syndrome.
In case of minor deformation of the foot, correction of the curvature of the forefoot through plastic surgery of soft tissues and lengthening of tendons. Reconstruction of the lateral collateral ligament of the metatarsophalangeal joint. Correction of the so-called transverse “flatness” deformity of the foot.
With a greater degree of damage to the foot, deformities in the bone tissue are corrected by changing the position of the bone. This operation is called osteotomy.
After surgical treatment by crossing the bones, the patient can move without crutches in the first days after the operation. For immobilization, special shoes are used instead of plaster. To ensure that postoperative scars are invisible, cosmetic stitches are left on the human body. The recovery period is designed for 2-3 months.
In addition, even after surgery to remove hallux vulgus, doctors recommend using corrective insoles that correctly “position” the foot, as well as so-called inserts between the first and second toes.
How natural is flat feet in children?
Newborns do not have formed arches of their feet. They appear only at 5 years of age. The somewhat clumsy gait of children is associated with this phenomenon. Instead of the arch of the foot, the baby has a kind of fat pad - a “shock absorber”. But to prevent physiological flat feet from turning into absolute deformation, it is important to choose shoes for your child wisely.
Fact. The anatomy of the toes requires them to decrease relative to the big toe. But there are also people whose second finger is longer than the first. It was named “Morton” in honor of the American orthopedist Dudley Joe Morton, who was the first to discover the rare feature. This physiological trait is observed in only 10% of people and usually does not cause complaints. In ancient times, such a limb appearance was considered an aesthetic standard.
Which insoles are suitable for correcting planus hallux valgus?
They can be made of wool, fleece, velor, cork and even genuine leather. The following insoles are distinguished:
Why are high shoes harmful and what is the acceptable heel height? What to wear for ease of movement?
The permissible heel height is 3-6 cm.
In shoes with too high heels, the forefoot literally “spreads” across the sole and takes on the bulk of the body’s load. The metatarsophalangeal joint is fixed in an extremely uncomfortable, extended position.
Tight shoes can lead to stretching of the big toe and compression of nerve endings.
At the same time, ballet shoes with flat thin soles also do not act as a suitable spring structure. When walking in them, a person may experience convulsive spasms, muscle pain in the lower back and knees.
When choosing shoes, consider the following parameters: reliability of the instep support, the ability to freely position your toes in the toe; if there is a heel, it should be strong. The instep support should also be selected individually. Indeed, from a medical point of view, this is an orthopedic insert that allows the joints to take the appropriate shape.
What is the difference between hallux valgus and gout?
Gout, unlike hallux valgus, is caused by the deposition of urate - uric acid salts - in the joints. Men suffer from gout ten times more often than women. Gout is often confused with hallux valgus, since with this disease, sharp pain is also felt in the area of the big toe and swelling is possible. But with gout on the feet, the patient may find so-called tophi - nodules with whitish contents (not pus), which can open and then clog on their own. Gout is accompanied by an increase in the temperature level of the skin in the affected area. Rheumatologists treat gout.
Bunion – the medical name for hallux valgus – is one of the most common pathologies in orthopedic practice. They first try to treat a protruding lump, which causes significant discomfort, with folk remedies, and then turn to official medicine when they already have to undergo surgery.
What are the causes of such a defect and is it possible to stop the development of the pathology without surgery?
Anatomically, the skeletal system of the human foot includes metatarsals, phalanges and ligaments that connect everything into a common structure. The metatarsals are parallel and any deviation causes deformity.
If the deviation is not one-time, then the first metatarsal bone deviates outward, the foot is flattened, the ligaments are stretched, the pathology intensifies - the protruding bone stands out even more.
Symptoms of hallux valgus deformity progress, the index finger changes its direction - moves towards the thumb.
When the shape of the foot changes, the gait changes and, accordingly, the load on the entire musculoskeletal system.
The pathology first spreads to the knee joints - they begin to deform, and then to the pelvic joints.
Causes of bunions on the feet:
All these factors lead to hallux valgus, the metatarsal bones are displaced from their place and in the future the pathological changes only intensify.
At first, the disease does not manifest itself in anything other than pain in the foot after a long walk. Then they begin to notice that the skin on the lower phalanx of the thumb is worn away, and the thumb itself is closer to the index finger, which causes discomfort - the skin between the fingers sweats and also wears off.
Next, you can already notice a growth on the lower phalanx of the thumb, which gradually increases. It is now very difficult to choose shoes - this is hampered by the appearance of a bone. In the evening, the feet hurt, a burning sensation appears in the fingers.
A callus forms, which is very difficult to get rid of, and pain now occurs throughout the day.
For some, hallux valgus is only an aesthetic defect - their painful sensations are mild or not manifested at all. For others, foot deformity turns into torture - they experience foot pain from the first days of pathological changes. How is a bunion treated, and is it possible to get rid of it without surgery?
Treatment of a bunion on the thumb
It is unlikely that anyone goes to the doctor at the first symptoms of foot deformity. They try to remove the stone at home. How to treat a bunion with folk remedies?
Traditional medicine methods offer the following ways to eliminate a bump on the thumb.
There are a lot of home recipes, but if you can’t get rid of the growth using folk remedies, it’s time to turn to official medicine.
At the first stage of deformity, official medicine advises to give up heels, buy comfortable shoes, reduce the load on the foot and do special exercises.
The exercises are very simple:
These movements strengthen your feet and improve your overall condition.
Conservative treatment methods include:
There are many topical agents, for example: Diclofenac ointment, Nise-gel, Deep Relief gel, indomethacin ointment, gel with ketonal and much more.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid hormones are used, injections of hormonal and chondoprotective agents are made directly into the affected joint, and vitamin therapy is carried out.
To reduce pain and restore the condition of the foot, orthopedic bunion braces are used to reduce bunions. Currently, in addition to medical orthopedic devices that are worn at night, the Valgus Pro retainer is produced. Advertisers promise a reduction in bone size after 2 months of using this device, but this is unreliable information.
The brace reduces the load on the joint of the big toe when walking, supports it, restores the shape of the foot, and stops the progression of the deformity. The petal protects the bump from rubbing, allows you to wear all types of shoes, and eliminates discomfort. The patch does not have a therapeutic effect, although it is very convenient to use - after 2-3 days you stop noticing it.
A rigid bandage – a valgus splint – has a more effective effect. It also eliminates symptoms, but at the same time rigidly fixes the joint at the required angle, returning it to its natural position. If you wear it constantly, the bump gradually decreases. True, it is impossible not to feel the splint on your leg.
Conservative treatment can slow down joint deformation, but if the problem is a metabolic disorder, then it is impossible to get rid of the pathology. As soon as the fixing devices are abandoned, the bump on the leg begins to grow again.
With age, foot deformation only increases, and the inflammatory process intensifies.
In this case, they resort to surgical intervention.
Currently, there are 93 methods for eliminating hallux valgus:
After surgery, relapse of the disease may occur.
Hallux valgus cannot be called a serious or dangerous disease - it does not pose a danger to life and health. However, causing discomfort, life complicates things quite seriously.
Therefore, at the first signs of deformation, you should abandon uncomfortable shoes and consult a doctor. If the bunion is treated at an early stage, then foot deformity can be slowed down.
Quite often one has to observe deformities in others around the base of the big toe. This deformation occurs due to deviation of the thumb, and directly depends on the degree of deviation of the finger towards the other fingers. These deformed areas form bumps that become increasingly painful over time. As a result, the metatarsophalangeal joint becomes less mobile, which affects the rest of the bones in the legs. This phenomenon is called Hallux Valgus or Bunion, but in everyday life it is usually called bunions on the legs.
The formation of a bunion on the feet begins with the deviation of the big toe outward, which occurs gradually. Over time, a bunion forms on the big toe along the inner edge of the foot. This lump is usually painless. However, the painful sensations increase as the finger deviates further. In addition, this area may become swollen and red. Painful sensations appear when wearing tight shoes.
The lump leads to limited mobility of the joint, pain, and often leads to hammertoe of the second toe. When we wear closed shoes, pressure causes calluses and abrasions. The thumb also puts pressure on the other fingers, which can also lead to calluses on and between them. The formation of an ingrown toenail is largely provoked by bunions on the toes, as the pressure on the toe increases.
Among the reasons for the appearance of bunions on the feet and valgus deviation of the first toe are, first of all, tight, uncomfortable shoes. As a rule, we are talking about dress shoes or too hard and with very high heels. However, the reasons do not always lie in shoes - for example, residents of the northern regions belonging to indigenous ethnic groups also experience bumps on their feet, although they have not had experience wearing such shoes. To be fair, it must be said that such cases are quite rare.
There are a number of other factors that provoke the appearance of bumps on the legs. There is an assumption that the cause of the appearance of bunions on the legs is an imbalance of forces acting on the forefoot during walking. Such an imbalance provokes impaired movement, increased pressure on the metatarsophalangeal joint, which leads to valgus deviation with age, and wearing uncomfortable shoes only aggravates the problem.
By and large, the main reason for the appearance of bunions on the legs is disturbances in the biomechanics of the foot, and therefore we should talk here not about the cause, but about a complex of reasons, including not only the way we walk and what kind of shoes we wear, but also the congenital predisposition to such deformities . In other words, we can say that bunions on our feet are passed on to us at the genetic level.
It is clear that it is not the bumps themselves that are inherited, but the weakness of the ligamentous apparatus of the foot. It is because of this weakness that instability occurs along the periphery of the joint, which leads to the development of a lump. There are cases where bunions on the legs developed due to injury or as a result of neuromuscular disorders. A high tendency to develop bunions is noted in people suffering from flat feet or increased pronation of the foot. Ballerinas have a high chance of getting bunions on their feet over time, since constant practice of academic choreography puts a lot of pressure on the forefoot.
They have been trying to fight bumps on the legs since time immemorial, and the methods chosen for this were not always gentle. For example, the method of sawing off the head of a bone was widely used. Today, of course, more humane methods are used - for example, bumps on the legs are removed with a laser. But it is also very important to work to relieve pressure on the bone, as well as to carry out prevention in the direction of other factors that provoke such deformities. Of course, in some cases, removal of a bone or bump on the feet is still possible only surgically.
It is important to try all possible conservative methods before resorting to surgery. A felt cloth is applied to the bunion area to relieve pressure. Physical therapy may be available to reduce symptoms and increase range of motion. It is important to heal the calluses and chafed skin that accompany foot bumps. Change your shoes to physiological ones to prevent deviation of the first toe. If deformation already occurs, the pressure on the bone can be relieved with the help of well-stretchable shoes.
There are special orthopedic insoles that are recommended to be worn in such cases. Such insoles correctly distribute the load on the foot while walking and prevent recurrence of deformity if the bump has already been surgically removed.
Special exercises have been developed that can help maintain joint mobility. They can also be performed as a preventive measure for bumps on the legs.
If, despite all the tried conservative methods, you need the help of a surgeon, then do not despair - this operation involves a very short recovery period. It is only important to consult a doctor in a timely manner, since an advanced disease can only aggravate the situation.
This disease occurs mainly in women, and not only because women wear uncomfortable high-heeled shoes - men's feet are much stronger than women's, so if they are deformed, it is only due to injury. It is important for women to understand that this problem threatens not only aesthetic troubles - in addition to calluses, swelling and external unattractiveness, legs with protruding bumps can lead to problems with the spine, since the correct distribution of the load on the spine, as well as on the knee and hip joints, is disrupted. And this quite often leads to complete immobilization.