Tight-fitting shoes can lead to bunions
Q. I have been reading your column for years but have not seen anything about bunions. I am a 47-year-old female and have bunions on both of my feet. I work in retail and have to stand all day. At times, the bunions and my feet become very tender and start to burn and tingle. I would rather not have surgery if there are other successful treatment options. Could you please discuss corrective treatments and give your opinion on which is the best?
A. Bunions occur when the big toe points toward the second toe, resulting in a bump at the toe joint on the side of the foot. Bunions occur much more frequently in women and are often the result of repeatedly wearing narrow-toed, high-heeled shoes for extended periods of time. Symptoms include a bony bump at the joint of the big toe, joint pain (worsened by wearing tight shoes), a red callous at the base of the toe, and, as stated above, a big toe that points inward toward the others.
Diagnosis can often be made by visual inspection alone, but X-rays will show the joint angle abnormality and, in some cases, arthritis of the joint. There aren't many treatment options.
When a bunion first starts to develop, taking good care of your feet and wearing wide-toed shoes can relieve the pain and prevent further damage and the need for further treatment. Wearing cushioning material, such as bunion pads, when wearing shoes or using toe separators at night may also help. © 2008 Newspaper Enterprise Association
Copyright 2008 Newspaper Enterprise Association