Deformation of the fingers of the lower extremities can cause a lot of pain, inconvenience and suffering. Why does a bone grow on the leg, how can this be prevented, and what if it happened to you? We will try to answer all these questions in this article.
Inconvenient problem
Suddenly, many women notice that they have a bone growing on their foot just below the big toe. This may not be immediately apparent, but discomfort when walking will appear much earlier than the problem becomes noticeable visually. When a bone grows on a leg, women immediately remember that stylish shoes are not the most important thing. Convenience and quality are equally important. When a bone on the leg grows, the orthopedist will call this problem “Hallux Valgus” and explain to you that the deviation of the finger to the outside and the appearance of the bump is a manifestation of deformation of the metatarsophalangeal joint. This means that this is not only a cosmetic problem, as many people think.
It is also orthopedic - pain and an obstacle to the normal wearing of shoes are only the smallest part of this trouble. Over time, the deformation will intensify, full walking will be difficult (since the thumb is the supporting one when walking, it has a heavy load). In the future, the development of arthrosis may occur, which is fraught with complete immobility of the joint.
Reasons for growing bones on toes
Halus valgus can occur due to running flat feet, wearing the wrong (narrow, tight) shoes, with abuse of walking in heels. In the latter case, the mechanism of the occurrence of deformation can be explained by reliance on the forefoot, which causes overload. Finger injuries with microtrauma, a thin sole also lead to the growth of a bone on the leg. This disease is often found in ballet dancers.
Symptoms
The thumb moves with difficulty, it is difficult to bend and unbend. The area around it is painful, and the joint is swollen and slightly enlarged. If the inflammation is in doubt, an x-ray is taken. Halius valgus needs to be distinguished from gout. This joint disease has similar manifestations. But men often suffer from it. The orthopedic surgeon not only identifies the disease, but also determines the stage at which it is. In the second and third degrees of finger deviation, only surgical intervention is indicated. The operation to remove the cone is combined with the contraction of the foot with the help of special devices. In rare cases, the joint is replaced with implants.
Conservative methods
Therapeutic treatment is indicated for the first stage of halus valgus. Its prerequisite is the selection of orthopedic shoes and the wearing of a fixing tire. This will stop further joint deformation. The pain that occurs when walking or standing for a long time is relieved with the help of warm baths, massage, physiotherapy. For prevention, massage and refusal to wear high-heeled shoes help a lot. If your legs are healthy, do not neglect physical exercises, because in this case the ligaments and joints will be less prone to deformation.