What are bunions?
A bunion, medically known as Hallux Valgus, is a deformity in the joint where the first toe (big toe) joins the rest of the foot. This deformity is characterized by the deviation of the first toe toward the other toes, which exposes the bony prominence that would normally be covered by the toe. This gives the appearance of a bone growth or bulge.
What causes a Hallux Valgus?
There are multiple factors associated with the development of Hallux Valgus. The most significant are the frequent use of narrow or pointed footwear, diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, anatomical variants in the patient's joints and a certain pattern has also been seen hereditary.
Can a Hallux Valgus cause pain?
Yes they can cause pain. The deformity often causes pain in the region of the bony prominence, the joint, or the base of the rest of the fingers.
In addition to the pain, bunions can make it more difficult to wear shoes and even cause ulcers due to friction with the edges of the shoe in some severe cases.
Can a Hallux Valgus be reversed without surgery?
In recent years, many devices and therapies that promise or seek to reverse finger deviation have become viral and popular; however, to date their effectiveness has not been proven in international medical literature.
What is the treatment for bunions?
All the treatments described for Hallux Valgus have the same objective: Relieve or reduce pain.
To achieve this goal, very simple and non-invasive interventions can be done, such as changing shoes, using toe separators and even specific insoles that are inserted into the footwear. These measures can be effective in mild to moderate deformities.
Moderate bunions that do not respond to initial treatment and severe deformities usually require definitive surgical treatment to eliminate the pain.
