There’s nothing like the high of getting dressed, knowing you’re about to slay from head to toe. But then you stuff your foot into a too-tight shoe and know it will be a struggle from your first step to your last. It can take the pep from your step—literally.
One of the reasons your toes may be feeling the cramp is due to bunions. Scientifically known as hallux valgus, this painful (and often unsightly) bump forms at the base of the big toe joint. The big toe joint shifts inward, causing the toe to veer toward your other four digits, leading to many uncomfortable issues.
“If you have a shoe that’s causing friction, it can be painful,” Dr. Ebonie Vincent, a foot and ankle surgeon in Long Beach, California, told EBONY. “It can also cause arthritis because the joint of your big toe is not moving correctly.”
In the case of bunions, “the metatarsals are the bones in the middle of the foot, and the first metatarsal—the one that connects the big toe to the rest of the foot— is sitting lazily on the midfoot bone to create the bunion,” she explained. “To fix it, you have to rotate the first metatarsal into a better position.”
Bunions are more common in women: nearly half of U.S. women suffer from the condition versus 10% of men. And it’s a condition that also affects us, as bunions and hammertoes are twice as prevalent in our community.
Even more annoying? Bunions are genetic. So, if your mom is rocking them, you will most likely get them. That, combined with the fact that we spend most of our lives on our feet all contribute to the severity of the condition.
“Walking on it with over a hundred pounds every step, your feet take a lot of wear and tear,” Dr. Vincent pointed out. “Over the years, it’s not uncommon to say, ‘I didn’t have this bunion five years ago, and now all of a sudden it’s getting worse.’”
You’ve probably seen some crazy promises on TikTok swearing they’ll fix your bunion. Dr Vincent says not so fast. “Being that it’s a genetic disposition, none of those contraptions you might see go viral really work, and you’re not gonna get rid of your bunions by stretching or exercise.” However, some exercises may help alleviate some pain.
A surgical procedure is needed to ditch your bunion, and Dr. Vincent urges everyone to get it done correctly the first time. “The bunion has one source where it develops. In my opinion, it should be addressed at that source. To correctly fix it, you need to rotate the bone at the first metatarsal cuneiform joint. You can do this in a minimally invasive way, but it does still require surgery.”
While surgery is your best option, Dr. Vincent stresses that not everyone needs it. You can take steps to mitigate the wear and tear on your feet. Arch support is a must-have.
“That first metatarsal bone is sitting on the side of your foot and not creating an arch for you or participating with the rest of the midfoot bones bearing weight,” Dr. Vincent shared. “Sometimes I see patients who don’t have bunion pain but have other midfoot pain, and that’s because the other midfoot bones do not have that support.”
Dr. Vincent added, “You can use a toe spacer within shoes to help throw your toe back into alignment and give your foot better support. If that works for you, then that’s great. And you definitely need a shoe with a wider toe box. It’s important to reduce the friction on the bunion itself.”
Here are some of our favorite shoes with wider toe boxes.
and removable moulded footbed with arch support.
Price: $125
Price: $325
Price: $180
Price: $120
