Symptoms and Treatment of Lumbar Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is caused by narrowing in the openings of the vertebrae that nerves pass through. When the narrowed area is in the lower back, it is called lumbar stenosis. The symptoms of lumbar stenosis are related to the compression of nerves that go to the hips, legs and feet.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of lumbar stenosis is pain in the legs. Sometimes people will have what’s called “neurogenic claudication” pain, which is heaviness, aching or cramping in your legs when you walk. Claudication pain gets worse if you walk and is relieved by sitting or lying down. It can be caused by impaired circulation to the legs (vascular claudication) or by lumbar stenosis. The claudication pain of lumbar stenosis is usually also relieved by bending over or stooping down.

People with lumbar stenosis can also have “radicular pain,” or pain that radiates down one or both legs, also called sciatica. Other sensory abnormalities caused by lumbar stenosis are tingling, heaviness or numbness in your toes, feet and legs. Motor abnormalities include weakness in one or both legs and difficulty walking.

Rarely, severe lumbar stenosis can cause “caudae equinae syndrome.” The spinal cord itself ends in the lower back and splits into several nerves. Those nerves continue down the spinal canal and exit in pairs between the vertebrae. Lumbar stenosis that compresses the caudae equinae can cause “saddle anesthesia,” or loss of feeling where you would sit on a saddle, bladder or fecal incontinence and sexual dysfunction. It is considered a medical emergency because only a very large disc herniation or other serious problem can cause caudae equinae syndrome.

Treatment

Treatment modalities for lumbar stenosis can be divided into three categories: conservative, alternative and surgical.

Conservative treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxers and pain medications. Physical therapy is often helpful in improving pain and mobility. If the pain continues, you could receive cortisone or anesthetic injections. Anesthetic injections, or nerve blocks, usually give you some relief from the pain. Cortisone injections seem to be less effective.

Chiropractic, massage and acupuncture are alternative treatments. They provide excellent pain relief for some people.

Surgery is usually a laminectomy, or removal of some of the bone around the spinal canal, to make a larger opening for the nerves. Sometimes a spinal fusion is done, too, to stabilize the vertebrae and keep them from slipping and compressing the nerves.

Many people, especially those who are older or who have other health risks, benefit from minimally invasive surgery for lumbar stenosis. The surgeon views the lumbar spine with a microscopic endoscope and uses microsurgical techniques to make specific repairs. Endoscopic surgery is less invasive and better tolerated than traditional surgery.

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About the Author: David Betz is a consultant doing work for Laser Spine Surgery http://www.laserspineinstitute.com and
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What You Need to Know About HIV

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HIV is an abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS as it is generally called, is the result of this virus. When a person has AIDS, the immune system gradually break downs. The patient then becomes highly susceptible to infections and illnesses, which could even, be fatal. History dates its origin to June 5th 1981 in Los Angeles where the virus was found in five homosexual men. It was then called GRID or Gay-Related Immune Deficiency because people thought it only affected homosexual people. This theory was soon blown to pieces when cases were reported from all over. Today, AIDS has reached epidemic proportions. It has plagued most countries around the world and is considered a highly dangerous disease.

To gain a better understanding of HIV, we must first explore how it is transmitted.

a. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. What does this mean? The mucous membrane lines different parts of the body such as the lips, genital areas, nostrils etc. When the mucous membrane comes in contact with sexual secretions of an infected HIV patient, the virus transfers from one to another. This is why the main cause for the spread of AIDS is unprotected sexual intercourse.

b. HIV is also transmitted through infected blood. Therefore, one has to take extreme precaution when undergoing blood transfusions. It is always advisable to go to a reputed hospital or clinic where infected syringes are not used. Intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs are at high risk to get HIV.

c. HIV can be transmitted from a mother to a child either in the womb, during childbirth or duing breast-feeding. The chances of this happening have been reduced with drugs and other procedures.

Some of the early symptoms include sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis, pharyngitis, weight loss, dry cough, unexplained fatigue, unusual blemishes on the tongue, herpes zoster and oral ulcerations. During the more advanced stages patients may have chronic diarrhea, continuous fever, extreme weight loss, oral hairy leukoplakia and candidiasis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

It is extremely important for people to be tested for HIV. In some communities, partners are required to take the HIV test prior to marriage. This is because it not only affects the infected individual but also can spread to the spouse and the unborn child. It is difficult telling someone you love that you have AIDS. However, is very vital for their health and safety.

Doctors, nurses and Medicare professionals are also exposed to this virus as they deal with syringes and needles on a daily basis. If you have AIDS and if you are looking for a doctor, then do some preliminary research on the doctor before you meet him or her. The doctor should be reliable and must be aware of the nuances of the field. You should choose a doctor who you are comfortable with.

James Daugherty reports about the latest HIV news - http://myhivstory.blogspot.com/ on his blog.

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Menopause-Demystified What You Need to Know

By John Mancini

Menopause has a bad rap, at best. This is one of the most misunderstood times in a woman’s life. However, it is natural and can be controlled through both medicinal and non-medicinal means. The following information regarding menopause will, hopefully, answer some questions and offer some treatment options for the millions of women who will soon be entering this next stage of life.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been the standard of care for menopausal women since the 1970’s. In fact, more than 40 million women every year receive prescriptions for this treatment. However, in recent years this form of treatment has come under attack as it is being thought that it causes an increase in heart disease.

The use of soy and vitamin E as a treatment for the symptoms of menopause are gaining momentum among those women who do not want to use hormone replacement therapy. Nevertheless, these options have not been subjected to the same scrutiny as prescription drugs. The reason for this is that vitamins, minerals and other non-traditional methods are classified as food items and not drugs. Therefore, the studies that may have been conducted are not done in accordance with the FDA guidelines. This means that any information gleaned from such studies may not be accurate.

There are a myriad of symptoms that signal the beginning of menopause. Irregular bleeding, menstrual cycles that are longer or shorter than normal, hot flashes and night sweats are some of the more common signs. It is important to note however, that even with a list that is this varied in symptoms that not all women have the same symptoms or experience the same severity of those symptoms. One woman’s experience of during this time in her life may vary greatly from the experiences of her friends and family.

It is best to talk to your health care provider if you suspect that you are entering the early stages of menopause. Together, you will be able to decide upon a course of action to alleviate some of the more uncomfortable aspects of this time of your life. Treatment does not need to follow either traditional or non-traditional methods, in fact, for many women a combination of the two works best.

The first step to alleviating some of the fear that is associated with menopause is to understand what menopause is. Simply put, it is the time when a woman’s ovaries cease to function. The ovaries control such functions as producing eggs and estrogen, when the ovaries stop working, so does the production of these two things. The cease in production of estrogen can lead to a fluctuation in hormone levels and can cause osteoporosis later in life. This is why hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) is the treatment of choice.

One last piece of information, menopause is not considered complete until the absence of a menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months. During this time, you may experience an occasional cycle. It is important to note that pregnancy may still occur, if menopause is not completed. It would be wise to continue any birth control that you prefer during the menopause phase, if pregnancy is not wanted.

John Mancini has been writing about Menopause online and offline for a long time. Visit http://menopause-expert.com or http://menopause-now.info to read more about matters like menopause treatments and stop hot flashes.

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Drug Rehab and Substance Abuse Treatment for Young Adults

By David Tang

For those who have never had substance abuse problems or family members who are addicts, consider yourselves lucky. Millions of families face the dark cloud of drug addiction via someone they love on a daily basis. The decision to get treatment, if not made by the addict, may very well have to be made by their loved ones. After all, the scope of drug addiction can have a reverberating effect on everyone who surrounds the addict. Consequences, if not dealt with directly, are apt to double in severity later on. However, once the decision to seek addiction treatment is arrived at, all parties involved can take comfort in knowing that their dedication will not go unrewarded. The path of healing has been laid out.

Good drug rehab centers have an array of resources that facilitate not only physical recovery from addiction–but the emotional and mental healing that is necessary as well. Some addicts complete drug rehab successfully, and then find that they’re unable to function in civil society because they lack the skills needed to lead a sober life. Some treatment centers emphasize job and education continuation so that addicts will return to these environments with ease once they leave the program. Alcohol and drug rehab centers are also effective in that they come complete with a support system, not only of medical and psychological specialists, but of peers who are recovering right along with you. Having these support systems will help recovering addicts learn how put themselves in healthy and sober social circles, rather than returning to the groups of people who enabled them before they sought treatment.

Once substance abuse reaches a certain degree of severity, you can be sure that there will be little chance of recovery if the addict is left to go it alone. The road to recovery has some treacherous terrain that can prove impassable if there’s no help along the way. Once an addict can make the decision to seek treatment and muster the dedication to follow it through, the healing process will come much more easily. The support system that will be provided by a good drug rehab facility will be leaps and bounds better than anything you’ll find on the streets. Extreme addiction makes the addict’s complete removal from their daily life absolutely necessary. Once that tough decision is reached, the addict can be certain that they are in good hands to the very end.

Written by Melissa Bryson. Sober College is a young adult drug rehab center and substance abuse treatment center located in California. More information available at http://www.sobercollege.com

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Physical Therapy Exercises

By Milos Pesic

The procedures of physical therapy are diverse. Physical therapy combines a variety of methods and techniques. Yet all in all, the process would include lifestyle change, external stimulation, use of assisting devices, and of course – the therapeutic exercise.

Appointing yourself with physical therapy exercises gets you in the hub of physical wellness. Whether to decrease pain or increase movement and function, various physical therapy exercises tender different types of body training that will improve any patient’s physical condition.

As the heart of any physical therapy program, whether clinical or home care, physical therapy exercises shall keep you moving. Plus points with the physical therapy exercises has been earning scores since studies realized that keeping an overworked or injured muscle immobilized to ‘rest’ is a bad idea. In contrast, continuous physical therapy exercises shall assure a patient’s vital recovery. In most cases, failure to use the muscles surrounding an injury or illness can lead to permanent weakness – a big no-no for physical therapy.

Physical therapy exercises are intended to restore strength and endurance, increase range of movement, and also improve balance and coordination. And to increase these effectiveness, physical therapists also use the physical therapy exercises treatment along with external stimulations such as heat, coldness, ultrasound, electricity, infrared or UV light, traction, water, and massage. All are applied externally to a specific area, or internally, in order to relieve pain or reducing swelling.

Another factor to assure the success of the exercise methods is to do it right. As long as properly prescribed, physical therapy exercises are the most effective method for healing sports or accident injuries or restoring basic functions. Another key is to do enough exercises. Physical therapy exercises performed during office visits alone is inadequate. For quick recovery, physical therapists also teach patients how to exercise at home. Here are some examples of home physical therapy exercises:

Sitting Stretch:

Sit on the floor with a towel around one of your outstretched foot (or around the one bent knee). Pull the foot towards your body (or the knee upwards) to feel the stretch. Hold for some seconds. Do alternately, and repetitively and at particular number of times per day.

Standing Wall Push:

Position your body against/ facing a wall with one foot behind slightly lunging. Hold the heel down while gently pushing your hands towards the wall to feel the stretch. Hold for some seconds. Do alternately, and repetitively and at particular number of times per day.

Tightening Legs Over a Ball:

With one knee bent over a ball, straighten the knee by trying to tighten the muscle on your upper thigh. Be sure to keep the bottom of your knee on the ball. Hold for some seconds. Do alternately, and repetitively and at particular number of times per day.

You should note that the repetitions and frequency of the exercises are increased progressively according to the exercise plan or as directed by your PT. Good luck!

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Physical Therapy web site. For more articles and resources on Physical Therapy related topics, Physical Therapy exercises and much more visit his site at:

=>http://physical-therapy.need-to-know.net/

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ENS Means Significant Nasal Problems

By Walter Ballenberger

If you’ve ever had a sinus operation or are thinking about having one, you need to be aware of one of the most tragic of nasal problems, ENS.

ENS stands for Empty Nose Syndrome. This condition causes nasal problems in some people that can be devastating. The condition is tragic because it is doctor induced. That is, when nasal turbinates are extracted in whole or in part during sinus surgery, the condition can subsequently occur, sometimes taking 5 or 6 years to manifest itself.

Turbinates can swell and cause blockages in nasal cavities, leading to sinus infections. Thus, cutting out turbinate tissue during sinus surgery used to be a common practice. It is now better understood that these turbinates are part of a system that regulates the flow of air through the nose and into the lungs. The turbinates also filter air going into the lungs, and they add humidity such that the respiratory system does not dry out. Furthermore, turbinate tissue produces mucous and contains cilia, which are vital for the proper functioning of the nasal system. Cilia can be permanently damaged, and if that occurs the nasal system will simply break down, and you are bound to feel miserable

Dr. Eugene Kern of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota coined the term Empty Nose Syndrome in the 1990’s after he and his colleagues observed that people who had turbinates or turbinate tissue removed during sinus surgery were still complaining about having stuffiness, sinusitis and other nasal problems, even though their nasal passages were very open, since their turbinates had been removed. These patients also experienced other symptoms, including shortness of breath, nasal dryness and caking, pain in the face, as well as depression and anxiety and a loss of the ability to concentrate. Dr. Kern studied the cases of over two hundred people with this condition and came up with the term “Empty Nose Syndrome” now commonly referred to as ENS. Dr Kern even treated two people who were so miserable with this condition that they committed suicide! He has been counseling surgeons to be conservative in their surgeries, but since the concepts are still relatively new, not every ENT is convinced, and many will still extract turbinates and turbinate tissue. The bottom line is this: don’t let your surgeon cut out your turbinates or their tissue if you are going to have sinus surgery. Another tragic aspect of the problem is that once the tissue is removed it cannot grow back, and techniques currently do not exist for successful transplants of other tissue.

One can learn more details about this condition by going to the web site of the ENS Association. Just do a search for “empty nose syndrome” and you’ll easily find the site. It features a forum in which people share their experiences, and just reading through some of the comments by people who are suffering from ENS nasal problems should be enough to make you extremely cautious if you are contemplating surgery.

One thing to keep in mind is that oftentimes people do not start experiencing ENS symptoms until 5 or 6 years after they have had surgery, as mentioned above. Essentially it can take that long for the remaining cilia left after the surgery to succumb to being overloaded and to fail. I personally had my second sinus surgery about six years ago, and I am watching out for ENS symptoms which fortunately are not an issue in my case thus far. My story and the stories of others can be found at http://www.postnasaldrip.net by checking the article index there.

Anyone who has had sinus surgery or is contemplating it is strongly urged to go to the ENS web site. Scroll down the home page, and you will find a button where you can listen to Dr. Kern presenting a lecture to other surgeons. His talk is about a half hour in length, and it is particularly poignant when he describes the two patients he treated who committed suicide. It quickly becomes clear that this condition is a very serious one. You will learn a lot by listening to this tape and by studying the other information on the site. In fact anyone who suffers from sinusitis or other nasal problems should be aware of ENS in case they are ever confronted with sinus surgery.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of http://www.postnasaldrip.net a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit http://www.postnasaldrip.net and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers

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Shoulder Tendonitis Surgery - Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

By Steve Madigan

First let’s find out what shoulder tendonitis or rotator cuff tendonitis is? There are several other names that this can be called. Some are known as tennis shoulder, pitcher’s shoulder and even a shoulder impingement. These are all common names for a very similar problem.

So what is it? Shoulder tendonitis or rotator cuff tendonitis is the inflammation and can be an irritation and swelling of the tendons of the shoulder. The shoulder joint is a ball and socket type joint. The top part of the arm bone (humerus) forms a joint with the shoulder blade (scapula). The rotator cuff holds the head of the humerus into the scapula.

What is the most common cause of rotator cuff tendonitis?

A lot of the time the problem occurs with sports. Inflammation of the tendons of the shoulder muscles occur in sports using the arm being moved over the head repeatedly. Such sports are tennis, baseball (pitching mainly) swimming and even lifting weights over the head. What happens sometimes is you get the inflammation or injury and can cause the tendons of the rotator cuff to tear. Sometimes this occurs in people over 40 years of age.

Some of the symptoms

Pain when the arm is moved
Arm is weak when rising over your head
Pain in shoulder at night, especially when lying on the affected shoulder.
Pain in arm when performing overhead activities

How to find out if you have shoulder tendonitis

X-ray’s or MRI. X-ray’s can show a burn spur. The MRI can show the inflammation in the rotator cuff. There could also be a tear in the rotator cuff and the MRI will show this.

Shoulder Tendonitis Surgery

Before shoulder tendonitis surgery, you should try physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of the rotator cuff. If the pain is too great to start physical therapy a steroid injection (cortisone) may reduce pain and inflammation enough to start effective therapy.

If there is a tear in the rotator cuff or therapy has not helped and symptoms persist, shoulder surgery may be necessary. For most shoulder surgery, this can be accomplished with arthroscopic surgery. This type of surgery is effective in removing the bone spur and inflamed tissue around the shoulder.

You can also treat small tears with shoulder tendonitis surgery and arthroscopic surgery. There are even some new techniques that allow even large tears to be repaired with arthroscopic surgery. Now there are some large tears that are going to require open surgery to repair the torn tendon.

Shoulder Tendonitis Surgery Expectations

Once the shoulder tendonitis surgery is completed and the bone spur or tear has been repaired arthroscopic ally, you can expect the use of the shoulder to pre-injury levels. The activities that you performed prior to the injury should be able to perform them once again.

There are a couple of factors in determining the success of the shoulder tendonitis surgery. People with tears of their rotator cuff that have had the shoulder tendonitis surgery (arthroscopic) will do well. It will depend upon the size and the duration of the tear. The age of the patient will also have a bearing on the outcome and what the pre-injury level of function was.

So there are some things that you can do and the success of the shoulder tendonitis surgery should have a successful outcome in most cases. In another article I will discuss the rehabilitation of shoulder tendonitis surgery.

Other Tendonitis topics visits: Shoulder Tendonitis Surgery or for Pain Relief visit Tooth Pain Relief

Have had many articles published on a variety of subjects. Co author of the best selling golf ebook called “Putt Lights Out”. You can find this ebook at http://www.puttlightsout.com. For more information on tendonitis topics visit http://www.tendonitistypes.com

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How to Remove Your Moles

By Dr Anne

Moles can be both ugly and dangerous (due to higher risk of cancer), and so sometimes it is best to remove them.

But there are many ways removing moles can be done unsafely, and some of the most common methods of mole removal can leave scars that are worse than the mole in the first place.

Moles are actually technically called melanocytic naevus. They are dark and sometimes raised spots on the surface of the skin, and can appear or disappear at ANY time of your life.

Consider how you want your moles to be removed. Doctors will normally remove moles with a little knife and that is probably the cheapest way to do it, but it can really leave an ugly scar. Having your moles removed with a laser is pretty expensive but it usually won’t leave any noticeable marks.

Cut a small tube from a plain potato and put on the wart or mole. Cover it with the same tape or bandage and leave for 4-7 days. As the potato decomposes, the wart or mole will turn black and fall off.

Observe the size and color of your moles. Visit a dermatologist or a surgeon to inquire whether the moles need surgical treatment. If yes, get them removed professionally. If no, take steps to remove them naturally.

Prepare a list of items useful in removing moles naturally. Cauliflowers, garlic, pineapple, castor oil, honey, fig stems and hot water with vinegar are considered effective in mole removal. Select only one from the mentioned items.

Although laser has been tried for moles, it is not the method of choice for most deep moles because the laser light doesn’t penetrate deeply enough. Typically, the doctor or dermatologist (a skin specialist) may choose excision with or without stitches depending on the depth of the mole and the type of cosmetic outcome desired.

Wash the moles with hot water five to six times a day. Let your skin dry, then apply cider vinegar to your moles with cotton swabs. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

The most common method of mole removal is actually simple surgery by a doctor using a scalpel. This can be both painful and leave a scar. Other surgical procedures are freezing and burning, which again, are both painful and leave scarring.

You now have the ability to eradicate moles in just a few days. Then, watch them heal right before your eyes revealing fresh, beautiful skin. This simple process will change your life, both physically and mentally. You will have a mole free body in no time without the hassle of doctor’s visits and the outrageous office fees.

Apply the extract of the milkweed herb on the mole and leave it overnight. Do this home remedy for a week. You will see the mole is on the verge of disappearing. This is very effective home remedy for moles

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Bursitis Information and Treatment

By Juliet Cohen

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that works as a skiding surface to descrease friction between tissues of the body. Bursitis chance when a bursa becomes inflamed. When inflammation happens, movement or pressure is painful. Bursitis frequently affects the joints in your shoulders, elbows or hips. Elbows and knees are the most generally affected because they are inactived upon more than various parts of the body with bursae and they also get the most repetitive use. Bursitis is more common in adults, exceptionally in those over 40 years of age. Scoliosis can also be a effect of bursitis of the shoulders.

Shoulder bursitis is more usually due to overexploite of the shoulder joint and muscles. Predisposing contributed risk factors of bursitis include diabetes, alcoholism, steroid therapy, uremia, trauma, and skin disease. Symptoms of bursitis pain and diminish swelling. The bursae sacs may swell, frequently making motion difficult. The most generally affected joints are the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, knee, and foot. Medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen may be helpful to reduce inflammation. NSAIDs are used as anti-inflammatory agents and for pain relief.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen to diminish the swelling and pain. Ibuprofen is not advised to those with asthma. Atypical mycobacteria intermittingly may be successfully treated with moderate drainage and appropriate antibiotics. Corticosteroids are often used because they work quickly to decrease the inflammation and pain. Steroids are also one of the safest treatment methods and can be injected directly at the site of injury. Physical therapy is other treatment choice that is frequently used, especially for a frozen shoulder.

Bursitis can be prevented with a gradual buildup in activities, with restricted force and limited repetitions. Ice is a very effective anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agent. Applying ice to diminish swelling. Stretching before you exercise, strengthening your muscles and resting when you do repetitive tasks might help obviate bursitis. Surgical drainage and removal of the infected bursa sac (bursectomy) may also be essential some cases of bursitis. Proper strengthening technique can assist avoid bursitis by using your muscles in a unharmed, more effective manner. For example, patients with shoulder bursitis can learn methods to move the shoulder that will not cause inflammation.

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What is a Bunion?

By peter hutch

The common bunion is a localized area of enlargement of the inner portion of the joint at the base of the big toe. The enlargement actually represents additional bone formation, often in combination with a misalignment of the big toe. The normal position of the big toe (straight forward) becomes outward-directed toward the smaller toes. The enlarged joint at the base of the big toe (the first metatarsophalangeal joint) can become inflamed with redness, tenderness, and pain. A small fluid-filled sac (bursa) adjacent to the joint can also become inflamed (bursitis) leading to additional swelling, redness, and pain.

Bunions are often described as a bump on the side of the big toe. But a bunion is more than that. The visible bump actually reflects changes in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. With a bunion, the big toe leans toward the second toe, rather than pointing straight ahead. This throws the bones out of alignment, producing the bunion’s “bump.”

Most bunions are treatable without surgery. Prevention is always best. To minimize your chances of developing a bunion, never force your foot into a shoe that doesn’t fit. Choose shoes that conform to the shape of your feet. Go for shoes with wide insteps, broad toes and soft soles. Avoid shoes that are short, tight or sharply pointed, and those with heels higher than 2 1/4 inches. If you already have a bunion, wear shoes that are roomy enough to not put pressure on it. This should relieve most of your pain. You may want to have your shoes stretched out professionally. You may also try protective pads to cushion the painful area.

Bunions are caused by a biomechanical abnormality, where certain tendons, ligaments, and supportive structures of the first metatarsal are no longer functioning correctly. This biomechanical abnormality may be caused by a variety of conditions intrinsic to the structure of the foot–such as flat feet, excessive ligamentous flexibility, abnormal bone structure, and certain neurological conditions. These factors are often considered genetic. Although no experts are convinced that poor fitting footwear is the main cause of bunion formation , other sources concede only that footwear exacerbates the problem caused by the original genetic deformity.

Tight fitting shoes are thought to be the cause of bunions in about 90% of patients. Shoes such as high heels are particularly damaging to the toes. These shoes have a sloping foot piece and a narrow toe box. The slope causes the front of the foot to be pushed with force into the narrow toe box. The narrow toe box causes the toes to become squeezed together. Depending on factors such as duration of wearing constraining footwear, skeletal maturity, and individual factors, the toes can become permanently adapted to the new position and lead to the formation of a bunion.

Bunions can occur for a number of reasons, but a common cause is wearing shoes that fit too tightly. They can also develop as a result of inherited structural defect, injury, stress on your foot or another medical condition. A bunion is an abnormal, bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. Your big toe joint becomes enlarged, forcing the toe to crowd against your other toes. This puts pressure on your big toe joint, pushing it outward beyond the normal profile of your foot, and resulting in pain. Bunions can also occur on the joint of your little toe (bunionette).

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