NCTV Episode 73
Continuing with the series of bitesize health tip videos which can be found here on my YouTube Channel, this episode, includes:-
- What they look like (you can’t miss them!)
- Who may be likely to get them
- What issues they cause
- How to prevent them
- How to treat them
Transcript
If you’d prefer to read the content within, rather than watch the video, then feel free to read the transcript, as follows:-
Hello and welcome to NCTV Episode 73 which is all about Bunions or Hallux Valgus as they’re also known as in the medical world.
These are something I get asked about every so often in clinic and whilst there’s not an awful lot that can be done about them this will at the very least provide some advice and information on the matter which should prove helpful if you or anyone you know suffer from them.
So firstly, what is a bunion? Well it’s a protuberance of the bone combined with swelling of the base of the big toe which creates a bump on the inside of the foot, as you can see! Typically, you’ll also see the tip of the big toe squashing up against the other toes. The bunion itself can also look a bit red and angry at times.
Whilst on the topic of bunions, it should be said that there are also similar deformities which can occur on the opposite side of the foot called bunionettes, which are essentially the same thing but occurring at the base of the little toe.
The exact cause of a bunion is unknown although there are a number of theories some of which are that they are inherited, they may be caused by foot stress or injuries or even due to trauma at birth. Experts tend to disagree on whether tight, high-heeled or too-narrow shoes CAUSE bunions or whether footwear simply CONTRIBUTES to the development of them. What can be said is that bunions are very rare in populations that don’t wear shoes, so make of that what you will. It’s also thought that bunions might be associated with certain types of arthritis, particularly inflammatory types, such as rheumatoid arthritis and there’s an increased risk of getting bunions if you have low arches, flat feet or loose joints and tendons.
The types of people who are susceptible to bunions are those in occupations such as teaching and nursing, which involve a lot of standing and walking. Also, ballet dancers due to the repetitive stress on the toes and pregnant women because of the hormonal changes which loosens the ligaments and flatten the feet.
However, because the exact cause of bunions is unknown, it does make it difficult for you to actually prevent them. Some preventative measures that might help though are making sure your shoes are the correct size and that you have enough room for your toes to move. Likewise, avoid shoes with high heels or pointy toes. Heels tend to exacerbate the problem by tipping the body weight forwards, forcing the toes into the front of the shoes which may help to explain why bunions are 10 times more common in women than in men.
The symptoms you tend to get with bunions are pain, rigidity and inflammation as well as calluses and corns on the bump. As a consequence of the reduction in function of the big toe, the demands on the second toe increase, often resulting in hammer toe , claw toe or metatarsalgia as it fails to cope with the added pressure being put through it. Obviously, this can all combine, making it difficult to walk at times.
So…this is all well and good knowing about bunions but what can you actually do to help the situation. Well as alluded to, wearing comfortable shoes that fit well and allow your toes to spread a little is a good start. If you’re flat footed, you can use an arch support to help and some people have found relief using bunion pads and splints but the jury is still out on that one. Short term treatments may involve hot or cold therapy, anti-inflammatories, massage, ultrasound and cortisone injections. As long as the bunion’s not impacting your daily life too much though, it’s the sort of thing you may just have to live with.
If, however, you’ve tried all the conservative measures, the next port of call might be to book yourself in to see the doctor or podiatrist. If you’ve tried all this and still to no avail and you’re experiencing extreme pain there then surgery is an option and it’s considered to be the only real way of getting rid of a bunion. Although it’s worth noting that bunions do sometimes come back after surgery. In saying that, a properly performed operation has a high success rate and while the recovery period may slow you down a little, you’ll be back on your feet in a few days with the use of crutches and often a full recovery is made by about 3 or 4 months after the operation.
That’s it for this week’s bitesize bit to help your health flourish and I’ll see you again next week. Bye for now!