Bunion Pain

Bunions suck. Here’s how to deal with them.

Hallux Valgus or more commonly known as a Bunion is the development of a bony prominence at the inner portion of the metatarsophalangeal joint where the big toe meets the foot. This deformity causes the big toe to misalign and point outwards towards the rest of the smaller toes.  

It is not fully understood how this condition develops, but it is most commonly linked to abnormal foot function/biomechanics during the developmental years of childhood or repetitive stress to the big toe for example wearing high heels or pointed shoes. Some studies suggest genetics may have a role in this as well but has not been fully proven yet Most cases provide little to no symptoms but if left untreated more complications can develop like bursitis, arthritis, metatarsalgia, hammertoe, or loss of balance. This would eventually lead to the necessity of surgery.

Most people depend on pain medication, anti-inflammatory drugs, specialized bracing or surgery to help manage the discomfort with bunions. Your feet can have a huge impact on the posture throughout the rest of your body. Poor biomechanics of the lower extremities translate directly into structural weakness which develop muscle imbalances and lead to pain. The most common misalignment with a bunion is the over pronation of the ankle. This slowly collapses the arch of the foot making your big toe work harder every time you move.  

Chiropractic care can help restore the proper biomechanical function of the spine and lower extremities to help decrease the progression of bunions. By mobilizing the stressed joints that are contributing to this development we can help correct misalignment to improve the biomechanics and take stress off that big toe. Other options can include utilizing custom orthotics to help maintain your ankle in a dynamic neutral position. Implementing these early in life can be very effective in breaking up fixations, muscle imbalances and most importantly help hold those spinal adjustments.