Firm thickenings on the feet not only look unattractive, but also bring a lot of inconvenience to a person. If a person has bumps on the toes, the reasons most often lie in the flat-foot deformation, which is usually encountered by men and women of advanced age. In this case, the foot configuration changes. The bone of the thumb begins to grow, shifting the phalanx to the side.
A similar phenomenon is often accompanied by severe pain. It becomes difficult for a person to pick up shoes, it is difficult to walk, joints become less mobile. Because of this, the gait changes. In order to avoid unpleasant consequences and not to bring the state of the limb to critical, you need to think about timely medical treatment, or, if we are talking about the initial stage of the ailment, use the advice of traditional medicine.
Causes
A bump on the big toe may appear due to improperly selected shoes. For example, a similar defect may develop due to the long wearing of pointed models of shoes. The use of shoes with either too high heels or without them (on too soft soles) can lead to this. More often similar problems arise for the fair sex.
In some cases, cones on the toes are inherited. Deformation also occurs due to too strong loads on the limbs due to overweight. Also, similar solidifications can develop against the background of:
- Flat feet. In this case, a small bone growth appears on the joint of the thumb, gradually it increases and affects most of the phalanx. The same formation can appear on the little finger, also displacing it in the direction of other fingers, gradually “driving” it under them.
- Arthrosis In this case, we are talking about a degenerative change in the joint of the foot. Osteophytes appear on the fingers, which limit the mobility of the phalanges. In this case, after a long walk, a person has strong pain.
- Arthritis or bursitis. In such situations, a bump on the foot near the thumb appears due to inflammatory processes. The growths of this type are softer. They can form due to infectious ailments, rheumatism and metabolic disorders.
- Gout. In this case, the bump on the big toe is formed due to salt deposits. Renal pathologies can also lead to a similar ailment.
- Hygroma. Cones of this type are tendons or bursa that appear on the foot. A person does not experience pain. Hygromas can disappear as dramatically as they appear.
Disease development
If cones on the toes are not treated, this will lead to a change in the shape of the entire foot. The phalanges will become hammer-shaped.
If the patient is diagnosed with transverse flatfoot, then in this case the bump will gradually bend the thumb outward. The angle of its deformation depends on where the metatarsal and phalangeal bones are connected. In a similar situation, displacement of ligaments and muscles also occurs. The thumb cannot be in a natural position for a long time.
The appearance of a bump on the little finger indicates that other fingers that are not designed for heavy loads experience a lot of stress. In this case, their deformation also occurs.
The appearance of bumps near the toes is facilitated by frequent soft tissue injuries. This leads to circulatory disorders and a decrease in the amount of subcutaneous fat. Initially, a person suffers from numerous corns and swelling of the legs (at a younger age), after which the formation of cones occurs.
If you do not take measures to solve the problem, then the foot will continue to deform. Due to the constant pressure on the tendons of the adjacent fingers, they are in a bent position. This imbalance leads to the fact that the phalanges become hammer-shaped.
Who most often suffers from this problem
Women are the main category of patients who have to deal with the formation of bumps on their legs. They often wear the wrong shoes in pursuit of fashion and sacrifice the health of their limbs.
Also, those who are diagnosed with flat feet are predisposed to a similar problem. In this case, the entire foot is deformed. Gradually, its longitudinal and transverse arches fall, which leads to:
- To longitudinal flatfoot. In this case, the longitudinal arch of the foot becomes almost flat, which is why the entire lower surface of the foot begins to come into contact with the floor.
- Cross platypodia. Flattening of the transverse arch occurs. A person begins to rely on the metatarsal bones and the entire front section. This often leads to a strong deviation towards the thumb.
The situation is aggravated if a person continues to wear too narrow shoes or prefers shoes whose heels are more than 7 cm high.
Cones developmental stages
Metatarsal bones change gradually. There are 4 forms of development of this disease:
- 1st stage. The first metatarsal bone (thumb) moves slightly outward, the metatarsophalangeal joint begins to bulge.
- 2nd stage. The deformation is amplified, the displacement affects the second metatarsal bone. At the same time, a more noticeable growth appears on the big toe.
- 3rd stage. The growth begins to become inflamed. The main sign of this is severe pain when wearing narrow shoes or just walking. At this stage, the disease continues to progress.
- 4th stage. In this case, the deformation of the foot becomes so pronounced that a person cannot actually move. While walking, he experiences severe pain. At this stage, the first metatarsal bone "leaves" under the adjacent finger, and its other part is turned outward by more than 35 degrees.
What is the danger of an ailment?
If after the appearance of cones on the toes, a person does not attach any importance to this, then gradually his condition will worsen. It will be more difficult to step on the foot with each new day.
At first, discomfort appears only when the patient walks in high heels. After some time, unpleasant sensations will appear when wearing more comfortable boots. During walking, more severe pain appears.
If you do not contact an orthopedist in a timely manner, then the deformation will not stop. Problems will appear not only during walking, but even during rest or sleep. In addition, the incorrect position of the legs on the surface entails other unpleasant ailments.
How to treat a bump on the big toe
Today, there are many ways to help solve the problem of metatarsal deformity. It all depends on the stage of the disease and the condition of the patient. The most effective way is surgery. There are over 150 different ways to adjust your limb like this. The operation is aimed at reducing the angle that is formed between adjacent metatarsal bones. After surgery, a person recovers very quickly. The procedure allows you to save all joints and does not impair leg mobility.
However, when a bump appears on the toe, many people postpone the treatment of this growth. Instead, some people prefer to use specialized tools that should help correct the situation. However, it must be understood that such drugs are effective only in the prevention of the disease or in the very initial stages of its appearance. In a neglected form, such tools will only bring even more discomfort, but will not have any positive impact.
Insoles
Special orthopedic products help reduce stress in the forefoot. Thanks to the insoles there is a uniform distribution of loads. These products are distinguished by their shape. Thanks to the insole, a kind of supporting arch appears under the central part of the foot. The foot will always be in the correct position.
It is also worth paying attention to the back of a specialized insole. Under the heel is a recess, due to which there is the necessary depreciation during walking. Also, the products are equipped with additional arch support and straps, which help to properly place the fingers. More expensive models also have a metatarsal pillow.
Bandages
Small thumb fixers are worn over the leg overnight. The bandage itself is a hard latch with special mounts that fasten on the heel.
This type of product, as well as specialized insoles, is only able to slightly correct the offset of the finger in the first stages of deformation. It is advisable to use not only these two types of correctors, but also to choose the right orthopedic shoes. However, you need to be prepared for the fact that there will be no quick effect. Therefore, wearing bandages and using insoles will take quite a long time.
Creams and ointments
Speaking about how to treat bumps on the toes, it is worth clarifying that such funds are not able to lead to a complete recovery of the foot. Drugs of this type are used as adjuvants that help relieve swelling and reduce pain.
It is worth allocating several funds:
- Turpentine ointment. This tool helps to enhance blood circulation, relieves irritation and softens pain. In addition, turpentine ointment does not allow inflammation to spread to large areas.
- Shark oil. This ointment is made from fat taken from shark liver. The healing agent blocks inflammation, normalizes blood circulation and accelerates the healing of the skin.
- Valgusteen. This gel best relieves pain. In addition, it blocks inflammation, heals tissues and prevents further finger deformation.
- "Bump stop." This special cream helps relieve fatigue after long wearing uncomfortable shoes. Also, the drug reduces inflammation, makes the skin softer.
Cones on toes: folk remedies
There are several medicinal formulations that will help get rid of discomfort and prevent further development of the deformation:
- Cod and pepper. This ointment can be made at home. To do this, mix 10 g of “Bodyaga” cream, 30 ml of ammonia and camphor alcohol, add 30 g of dried chili pepper and dilute all components in 125 ml of ethyl alcohol. The resulting composition must be applied to the cone with a wooden stick.
- Cloves. This is another remedy for bumps on the toes. For its preparation, it is enough to mix 10 g of dry cloves and 100 ml of natural olive oil. The resulting composition must be applied to the sore spot every day.
- Lemon. To get rid of strong pain at night, you need to attach a slice of lemon to the cone and wrap it with a bandage. In the morning, the foot is washed.
- Iodine and analgin. If you mix a bottle of iodine with 6 powdered tablets of anesthetic and daily draw a grid on a bump, then you can remove the inflammation and get rid of the pain.
Cold compresses also help with severe pain. To do this, it is enough for 10-15 minutes to apply ice to the inflamed cone.
What to do if pain bothers
If a person experiences a strong pain syndrome, then this indicates inflammatory processes. In this case, do not delay and consult a specialist. If the cones on the toes hurt, you can try using specialized or self-made ointments, often massage the affected area or use other methods of traditional medicine.
However, it is necessary to determine at what stage the growth is.
Preventative measures
To avoid the appearance of unpleasant deformation, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of orthopedists. You need to get orthopedic shoes, insoles and bandages. It is also recommended that you begin to exercise. Gymnastics and self-massage are also effective preventive measures.
Of course, when the first signs of a bump appear, it is worth abandoning uncomfortable shoes and high-heeled shoes.