Well, I've gotten good help on a lot of other topics from this forum. How about bunions? I think I have one, and I have read advertisements for splints that claim to correct the toe angle, which is what I would like to do. I don't have pain on the side of my foot, but am starting to experience a structural type pain within my foot around the big toe joint when walking, which seems to be caused by my big toe angling toward the next toe.

Any experience with any non-surgical corrections for this? Thanks.

This is an anatomical deformity the happens over time and the reasons may be anything from wearing high heeled and narrow toe type shoes but as the deformity increases and the big toe actually ends up under the next toe, a bony prominence develops over the inside of the joint of the big toe and no splint will correct this as the big toe and the tendons of the big toe are quite strong and will easily overcome the resistance of a soft splint.

To be of any use, a splint would have to be worn just about permanently; even when sleeping.

At the stage where there is just a soft callus, minimally invasive surgery may prevent further development of the deformity and has usually good outcomes. Bunion surgery at a very late stage requires much more bony resection and re-setting and has lots of risk of non-union and not very satisfactory outcomes.

There IS a non-surgical treatment for Bunions, (Halux Valgus).

All the surgery will do is give you a stiff toe.

With you feet bare attempt to "flare" all of your toes to the sides. You find that the "Bunion" toe will move upward.

This is the result of injury, tight shoes, whatever. The muscle responsible for keeping the large toe straight is atrophied from years on compression.

You have to teach your large toe to move medially, (toward the inside). It is a difficult exercise at first and even at 1 to 2 minutes a day can be quite uncomfortable

Once you gain control of this toe muscle you will go through a brief time of muscle cramps as the muscles get used to moving again.

Depending on the severity of the Bunion it can take 3 months to 18 months with 2 minutes of exercise every day.

I do not work in Thailand so I can tell you that in my practice over the last 38 years I have seen hundreds of these cases completely disappear.

The focus is on you. You must do the exercise daily, get through the 1 to 2 weeks of pain and watch the results!

Dr. George

There IS a non-surgical treatment for Bunions, (Halux Valgus).

All the surgery will do is give you a stiff toe.

With you feet bare attempt to "flare" all of your toes to the sides. You find that the "Bunion" toe will move upward.

This is the result of injury, tight shoes, whatever. The muscle responsible for keeping the large toe straight is atrophied from years on compression.

You have to teach your large toe to move medially, (toward the inside). It is a difficult exercise at first and even at 1 to 2 minutes a day can be quite uncomfortable

Once you gain control of this toe muscle you will go through a brief time of muscle cramps as the muscles get used to moving again.

Depending on the severity of the Bunion it can take 3 months to 18 months with 2 minutes of exercise every day.

I do not work in Thailand so I can tell you that in my practice over the last 38 years I have seen hundreds of these cases completely disappear.

The focus is on you. You must do the exercise daily, get through the 1 to 2 weeks of pain and watch the results!

Dr. George

Thanks for both replies. My condition is not too bad yet. I will try a few non-surgical approaches, including a toe splint and the exercises before undergoing surgery.

Tom