Shoes - Do they cause side bunions? - Foot Problems Message Board

misfish90 · 12-22-2006, 10:43 PM

OK, I obviously have way too much time on my hands. I have just spent the last 2 hours researching side bunions (hallux abducto valgus) on the internet (which I don't even have -- I have top bunions-hallux limitus) and now I'm scratching my head over the whole shoe issue. Wow, there is a lot of conflicting information out there.

Shoes DO cause bunions. Shoes DON'T cause bunions. Underlying bone genetics cause bunions but tight shoes make them develop faster. Nope, don't blame shoes blame pronation. Aboriginal tribes who don't wear shoes have bunions, hence shoes aren't the culprit. Aboriginal tribes don't wear shoes and only rarely get bunions, hence shoes are to blame. Young children get bunions therefore it can't be the shoes. If you have bunion surgery, wearing tight shoes will make them come back. What to believe?

What's been your experience on the whole shoe/bunion debate? Should we blame mom or the Manolo Blahniks?

Titchou · 12-23-2006, 05:48 AM

Hallux limitus is caused by several things - pointy toed high heels being one. It is also commonly called turf toe, runner's toe, tennis toe. Shaquille O'Neal had a cheilectomy for this back in '02. It is not a bunion. A bunion is a misalignment of the toe - usually genetic. With a cheilectomy they clean out the joint of bone spurs and chips, shave down the bump on top (osteotomy), usually drill holes in the cartilege to promote growth and may add pins to hold in place depening on the severity of the condition. I've had this done ( no pins!) four years ago and all is fine...I jog, dance, wear heels (but not 3 and 4 inch ones!).

mkl · 12-23-2006, 07:30 AM

I kind of put my vote on genetics....ALL the women on my mother's side of the family had horrible bunions, going back several generations. Mother, aunts, grandmother, sister. And not all of them worse pointy cowboy boots or heels the way I did. (Which of course made my pre-op condition worse than their feet ever had been).

Marianne

Gainup · 12-24-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misfish90

OK, I obviously have way too much time on my hands. I have just spent the last 2 hours researching side bunions (hallux abducto valgus) on the internet (which I don't even have -- I have top bunions-hallux limitus) and now I'm scratching my head over the whole shoe issue. Wow, there is a lot of conflicting information out there.

Shoes DO cause bunions. Shoes DON'T cause bunions. Underlying bone genetics cause bunions but tight shoes make them develop faster. Nope, don't blame shoes blame pronation. Aboriginal tribes who don't wear shoes have bunions, hence shoes aren't the culprit. Aboriginal tribes don't wear shoes and only rarely get bunions, hence shoes are to blame. Young children get bunions therefore it can't be the shoes. If you have bunion surgery, wearing tight shoes will make them come back. What to believe?

What's been your experience on the whole shoe/bunion debate? Should we blame mom or the Manolo Blahniks?

I have the same questions. If your bunions are caused by genetics, will they grow back? If you pronate, will you still pronate and will they come back?

RightFootMary · 12-24-2006, 08:43 PM

I guess these are questions for the dr. I know mine gave me (actually sold me) orthodics before I even had my surgery. He assured me that they will not change after my surgery. They hold your heel in the proper position and help prevent pronation. They will not cure a bunion but I'm assuming (bad word) that they should help prevent recurrence (plus the surgery).

Let me know if anyone was told something different.

Mary