By Dave Warner
Lots of people have bunions. And most of them are women.
There may be a genetic proclivity towards the condition, but it’s clear that those saucy, sexy, pointy-toed high heels don’t help anything either.
While the word “bunion” has kind of a humorous ring to it, there’s nothing funny about the pain it can cause as an extra bone and a sack filled with fluid grow at the base of your big toe.
Is your big toe turned in towards the other toes? That’s a symptom of bunions as is pain over the joint of the big toe, which can become worse when you don those high-fashion heels.
Other tell-tale signs include the development of red, calloused skin on the inside of the big toe, and a bony bump in that area.
It’s also possible you can develop something called a tailor’s bunion, which develops not at your big toe, but at your little toe.
You’re most at risk if you’re born with unusual bone structure in your feet, and the situation can get worse when the joint in your toe becomes unstable, forming into what becomes a knob.
If you do nothing, you can end up with a whole list of complications, such as chronic pain, a deformed foot, numbness in your foot, or possibly an infection.
There are some steps you can take yourself to try to help with the condition.
First, buy some comfortable shoes. That means footwear that is wide enough to accommodate your toes, so they aren’t all scrunched together. That alone can make your feet feel better.
If that doesn’t work, take a trip to the drugstore and look for a moleskin pad that is made for just this reason.
You can also buy spacers that keep your big toe apart from the one next to it when you’re asleep.
If all that fails and you’re still suffering, you can always investigate surgery, which is usually called a bunionectomy.
A surgeon would remove swollen tissue, and then remove part of the bone in your foot so that toe is straight, instead of leaning in towards its neighbor.
Experts warn, however, that the surgery comes with some risks, and it’s possible it will not resolve the issue. They urge bunion sufferers to give the more conservative remedies, like new shoes, a chance first.
Take steps to care for your feet
It may not be the first thing you think of each day, but taking care of your feet is important, especially as you get older.
For starters, just check your feet on a regular basis. Do you have cuts, or blisters? Maybe an ingrown toenail? And if you have diabetes, a “regular basis” should be defined as every day.
Here are some tips for good foot health:
- Wear shoes that fit. Again, as you get older, your shoe size can change, so measure before you buy.
- Make sure your feet stay clean.
- Cream or lotion can prevent dry skin on your feet.
- If you have a corn or a callus, see your doctor.
- Use toenail clippers to prevent ingrown nails.
- See a doctor if your feet are swollen a lot. It could be the sign of another health problem.
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