Do I have Bunions or Hammer Toes?
Do I Really Have
Bunions or Hammer Toes
? Will I have to wear shoes for bunions? If you are not familiar with what a bunion is, it is an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint just at the base of the big toe. What happens is as the big toe turns inward, the bone at the base of the big toe is pushed outward. So as you are walking, you are actually walking on the bunion. This can cause the tissues around the joint to become more tender and swollen. You may have skin irritation over the bunion accompanied with redness around the joint, as well as, stiffness.
Hammer toes on the other hand involve the second, third and or forth toes. At the top joint the toe is permanently bent. Like bunions, this can be caused by poorly fitting shoes in that are either too tight or too short that cause the toes to bend improperly over long periods of time wearing shoes. In either case, they same type of shoes need to be worn in order to ensure your toes are comfortable.
Many people do not realize that there is another condition that can also happen to the baby toe. This is referred to as a bunionette that will have the same symptoms as bunions with the exception of being the little toe.
With both types of bunions, and the hammer toes, there can be a great deal of pain when walking so a proper fitting shoe to give adequate space will certainly help. Contrary to belief, bunions can develop at any age. Weak bone structure in the feet can contribute to bunions, as well as, shoes too narrow or with a high heel. High heels are not considered the right shoes for bunions or hammer toes.
One thing that sets bunions aside from any other suspected illnesses, is that bunions develop into a joint deformity to the point where the big toe looks odd. This is not an overnight issue, bunions develop gradually overtime and you may not even notice until you have symptoms. These symptoms may not be in the feet, there could be symptoms elsewhere such as the knee, hip, and lower back. If not properly cared for, arthritis can develop, also with the hammer toes. Once the symptoms start, you will need to consider researching shoes right away!
You may have also heard of a bunion referred to as a bump on the side of the big toe. It is definitely more than a big lump. So what are the signs if you have a bunion? If you start to notice irritation around the joint at the base of the big toe, experience pain when walking or running, you notice redness, and the big toe looks like it is shifting you may have bunions.
When you have bunions or hammer toes, it is difficult to find comfortable shoes for bunions or hammer toes that fit properly . If you do not have the correct shoe, you may experience pain in different parts of your foot. This is because the structure of the foot’s compensating for the bunion or hammer toe and the the ligaments and tendons that support the foot now have to work much harder in order for you to walk.
