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Foot "Bunions" (Hallux Valgus): A Mix of Poor Fitting Shoes and Genetics?

Foot bunions are a common condition affecting women to a far greater extent than men. One commonly accepted cause is the use of poor fitting shoes, although this cause is not particularly quantified.

Bunion conditions often run in families. Whether this is an inherited genetic disposition or an inherited tendency to improper shoewear is not well known. This condition is also called Hallux Valgus which refers to the angulation of the great toe that occurs with the progression of this condition.

What Are The Symptoms of Foot Bunions for sufferers from
Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner and the Triangle?

In the initial stages foot bunions are painless and usually symptoms only occur by wearing tight or high heeled poor fitting shoes. The later stages result in an increasing angulation of the big toe which can press on the 2nd toe producing corns between the toes. In severe cases the big toe may relocate beneath the 2nd toe causing the 2nd MTP joint to dislocate.

The great toe joint may become arthritic in the latter stages. Pain is normally on the inside of the forefoot and is the usual area where the poor fitting shoes rub. This friction can result in inflammation of the surrounding bursa (sac of fluid) and occasionally lead to infection of the bursa.

Investigation and diagnosis of foot bunions are usually undertaken with standing X-Ray.

What Are The Treatment Options for
Garner, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest and other Triangle Patients Suffering from Foot Bunions?

Conservative Care for Foot Bunions
In the early less severe phases, conservative treatment of foot bunions can consist of wider shoes, anti-inflammatories either orally or topically and the use of toe separators in the result of angulation. The use of orthotic insoles in foot bunions is somewhat controversial. Some patients with flat feet do present with increased pain and foot deformity in weight bearing. These patients may be aided with increased arch/foot support.

Surgical Care for Foot Bunions

Surgical correction tends to be the gold standard of treatment in symptomatic hallux valgus (foot bunions) condition. The surgery generally involves realigning the bone and joint. Patients will usually be required to wear a restrictive shoe or boot for 4-6 weeks after surgery to allow for proper healing.

The surgery is generally well tolerated, but many patients do report noticeable pain for some time.

The foot bunions surgery tends to be successful in 85% of the cases and following bunion surgery two-thirds of ladies can wear any shoe of their choice.

Any surgery can have complication of a similar nature and include problems with anaesthesia, infection, bleeding, or clotting, nerve or blood vessel damage, tendon injury, or lack of complete pain relief.

For more information on how the foot bunions specialists at Cary Orthopaedics can help you, contact us today at 919-467-4992 for an appointment!

Cary Orthopaedics serves patients from Raleigh, Garner, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Clayton, Chapel Hill, and Pittsboro, NC.