Hallux valgus is a fairly common problem, especially among women of mature age. The bumps at the base of the big toe do not look too pretty, and as the disease progresses, the pathology also causes significant physical discomfort. So what is the treatment of bone on the thumb? What remedies does modern medicine offer?
What is hallux valgus?
Ugly bumps on the legs in most cases are nothing more than a hallux valgus deformity of the big toe. Under the influence of various reasons, the redistribution of the load on the foot changes, which, in turn, leads to the deviation of the phalanx of the thumb from the natural axis. Of course, such changes affect the condition of all bones of the foot - in the absence of treatment, the deformation gradually covers all the phalanges and joints.
The main causes of foot deformation
In fact, such a pathology of the feet develops under the influence of many factors - both external and internal. First of all, a genetic predisposition should be indicated in the list of reasons - if the mother has a hallux valgus deformity of the thumb, then it is highly likely that similar diseases of the feet will appear in her daughters. By the way, the female factors can be attributed to risk factors, since in women of mature age a similar ailment is diagnosed most often.
In addition, the disease is often associated with wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes and narrow toes. The fact is that such shoes create an imbalance while walking - the main load falls on the forefoot.
Risk factors also include flat feet of the transverse type, in which there is a change in muscle tone in the forefoot. Overweight, on the other hand, also creates additional stress, which increases the risk of deformations. Occasionally, bones on the legs result from mechanical trauma, such as a bruise, fracture, or dislocation.
Stages of the development of the disease
Unfortunately, a similar foot disease is considered a fairly common problem. And here it is very important to notice the appearance of deformation in the early stages, when everything can still be fixed without resorting to the help of a surgeon. In modern medicine, it is customary to distinguish four stages of development of hallux valgus deformity of the thumb:
- First degree. It is accompanied by a small deviation of the thumb (less than 20 degrees) and is more aesthetic than physical inconvenience.
- In the second stage of the development of the disease, the deviation angle is approximately 20-30 degrees.
- The third stage is characterized by a shift of 30-50 degrees, while there is an initial deformation of the other phalanges of the foot and limited movement in the joints of the thumb.
- In the fourth stage, the deviation angle is more than 50 degrees, while there is a significant deformation of the entire foot, and patients complain of constant pain.
In any case, it is worthwhile to understand that such foot diseases are extremely unpleasant and dangerous. Therefore, when small bumps appear at the base of the big toe, you should immediately seek help from an orthopedic surgeon.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
Of course, hallux valgus is accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms. In the initial stages, you can notice the formation of small bulges, "bones" at the base of the big toe. At first, patients perceive this phenomenon rather as a cosmetic flaw, since there is no physical discomfort.
But as the disease develops, the thumb begins to deviate in relation to other phalanges. Patients complain of heaviness in the legs and soreness that occurs with prolonged walking, especially in uncomfortable shoes. In the third stage, pain becomes a constant companion of a person. Often, affected joints begin to become inflamed - soft tissues swell, and the skin turns red. The fourth stage of the development of the disease is characterized by deformation of almost all phalanges of the toes of the foot - the pain is present constantly, even at rest.
Diagnostic Methods
It is not so difficult to suspect hallux valgus deformity, especially if the patient sought help at the later stages of the development of the disease. Nevertheless, there are other foot diseases that are accompanied by similar symptoms - for example, skeletal deformity may be associated with arthritis, gout, and other diseases. Therefore, the patient is advised to undergo some additional tests, in particular, an X-ray examination - in the picture the doctor will be able to accurately see the presence of deformation and the degree of its severity, which, accordingly, will give answers to the question of how to properly treat such a foot disease.
Thumb bone treatment
When the slightest suspicion of the development of deformation appears, you should consult a doctor. Treatment of bone on the thumb largely depends on the stage of development of the disease. At the initial stages, it is possible to correct the situation with the help of conservative means, but in any case, it is worthwhile to prepare for the fact that the therapy will be long and complex.
If there is an inflammatory process, then to begin with, the doctor needs to eliminate it in order to alleviate the patient's condition. For this purpose, various anti-inflammatory drugs are used - special gels and ointments have the greatest effect in this case.
In addition, it is important to choose the right shoes. High stiletto heels and narrow toes will have to be abandoned in favor of comfortable leather shoes with a wide toe. Ideally, the shoes should be orthopedic and contribute to the correct distribution of load on the foot. The doctor will also select the appropriate diet for you, which will help to control body weight and reduce the likelihood of an inflammatory process.
Regular (daily) exercises for the feet, which will help restore mobility to the ligamentous apparatus, will be extremely useful. In addition, do not forget that tense muscles also contribute to deformation - in order to eliminate this risk factor, patients are recommended to undergo a course of therapeutic massage.
Naturally, therapy includes all kinds of physiotherapy. In particular, patients are offered therapeutic baths, as well as electrophoresis with drugs, ultrasound therapy, and mud therapy.
Orthopedic devices to eliminate deformation
Modern orthopedics offers a lot of tools that help correct deformation in the early stages. For example, patients are advised to acquire special insoles that provide relief of the affected joint.
In addition, a special bandage for the bone on the leg is considered effective, which "takes" the finger in the right direction and holds it. Such a device is most often worn at night, since walking in it is not too convenient.
Interdigital rollers and special arch supports help to correctly distribute the load on the forefoot and visually align it. Special ties are used to support the transverse arch of the foot, but they are not designed to be worn continuously.
One of the most effective products of modern orthopedics are tires in which there are overlays on the bone of the thumb. They are used both for conservative treatment, and during the rehabilitation period after surgery. This tire can be worn constantly, even under shoes.
Surgical treatment of pathology
Unfortunately, bumps on the thumbs are far from always amenable to conservative methods of treatment. In some cases, you still have to resort to the help of a surgeon. Today, there are more than a thousand techniques for conducting such operations - the choice of a method for correcting deformation depends on the degree of development of the disease and associated pathologies.
In some cases, part of the head of the metatarsal bone or the phalanx of the thumb is removed. But most often, doctors manage to restore the normal structure of the foot. During the procedure, the surgeon restores the ligaments around the joints and returns the normal position last. If necessary, the bones are fixed using special screws. Only in the most severe cases, the affected joints of the foot are replaced by implants.
Rehabilitation period after surgery
The duration of the rehabilitation period depends primarily on the degree of complexity of the operation. In most cases, already for 1-2 days the patient can and even needs to make accurate movements with his fingers. As a rule, after 10 days the patient can already walk, but, of course, following some precautions. Long and intense loads on the joints of the feet should be avoided.
In addition, it is worth taking care of the appropriate shoes - they must be comfortable, with a wide toe and good cushioning. By the way, it is better to ask the doctor to pick you the appropriate orthopedic pair of shoes.
Preventive actions
It is much easier to prevent the development of deformity than then trying to find an effective treatment for the bone on the thumb. And preventive measures are quite simple. First of all, it is worth abandoning uncomfortable shoes. The heel must be stable and not too high (no more than five centimeters), and the toe should be wide enough so as not to put pressure on the phalanges. At least that's what everyday shoes should look like - an exception can be made for festive occasions.
Remember that the joints of the foot support the weight of your body, so keep an eye on your figure and prevent the development of obesity. Foot care is also extremely important - regular warm baths, massage and gymnastics for the legs will be really very useful.
Hallux valgus in children
In children, such an ailment most often occurs in the form of flat-valgus flatfoot, in which deformation of the arch of the foot is observed - the heels in a small patient are deflected outward. Such an ailment can lead to some complications. To begin with, it is worth noting that as a child grows older, it becomes harder for him to move, because walking is accompanied by constant pain. In addition, curvature of other joints and bones, including the spine, is not ruled out.
Fortunately, with the timely detection and treatment of the disease, the prognosis for children is favorable. In most cases, the deformation can be eliminated without operations. Children are selected with special orthopedic shoes, make up a program for gymnastics, and they also recommend regular massage sessions. Positive development of the skeletal and muscular system will be affected by cycling, walking barefoot on uneven surfaces (for example, on pebbles), as well as swimming. Surgical treatment of hallux valgus feet in children is carried out only if conservative therapy has not yielded a positive result.