Bunions and Great Toe Joint Arthritis: Bunions are not just the nasty bump you saw sticking out of the side of your grandmother’s shoe. They are a progressive foot deformity that can appear as early as the teen years. Over time the great toe moves toward the smaller toes, making the great toe joint prominent on the inside of the foot. Bunions are hereditary and the deformity can be worsened by pointy toed shoes. In the early stages there is no pain with this deformity. As a bunion progresses shoes become irritating to the bump. Patients will usually start to wear wider shoes to accommodate the bump, and stretching out of the shoe over the bunion can be seen. With the joint out of alignment the cartilage will start to degenerate and become arthritic. Pain changes from an irritation over the bump from shoes to a deeper ache in the joint as the cartilage is destroyed. If a bunion is not treated, compensation can be seen throughout the foot. Hammertoe formation of the second toe is caused by the great toe pushing the second toe out of position. Callouses can be seen across the forefoot and along the great toe as the mechanics of the foot and the way a step is taken changes because of the deformity.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 13:27:01 +0000
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