Be Alert to Hallux Valgus Deformity Symptoms

Be alert to hallux valgus deformity symptoms. Just as you would be alert to symptoms of some other disorder or illness, you should pay careful attention to anything out of the ordinary with your feet or toes. We tend to forget about our feet and toes, until it's time for another trip to our favorite nail salon to make sure our feet look pretty. We forget that our feet bear the burden of our whole body whenever we are upright off the bed or couch. Once we are walking, our feet are carrying a heavy load. This makes learning the symptoms of this foot disorder a smart, pro-active move. This is especially so if you are a woman and you wear shoes that you know don't really give your toes enough room. If there is a history of bunions in your family, then you must be even more alert.

The symptoms of hallux valgus show up in a variety of ways, but the most obvious way is the leaning of the big toe toward the other toes. If you notice that your big toe isn't quite straight and seems to be curving toward the toe next to it, you need to become proactive right away. Don't take the chance of thinking that you are just imagining things because of your tight shoes, and that all you have to do is kick them off and then you won't see any signs of leaning. If you wear tight shoes often, that leaning will become a permanent condition.

If you have any kind of pain in the metatarsophalangeal joint, which is at the base of the big toe, then you are experiencing another symptom of hallux valgus deformity. Pain in this big toe joint, along with the turning of your big toe toward the others, no matter how slight, is a serious, almost foolproof indication of the development of a bunion.

Redness in this toe area and swelling are additional symptoms that go along with the hallux valgus, although these symptoms could also be caused by other problems, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or hopefully something more minor, such as damage to the skin or tendons. So, in and of themselves, redness and swelling could indicate one of the above mentioned problems. The most important symptoms that indicates hallux valgus deformity is the turning of your toe and pain in the metatarsophalangeal joint. Unfortunately, since hallux valgus deformity is a progressive disorder, it will get worse if you do not become proactive right away. This fact increases the importance of finding out what is really causing your symptoms. Find out if the redness and swelling are from hallux valgus, or from one the other other conditions mentioned above, each of which would also required immediate medical attention, as well.

The genetic factor for bunions is not always emphasized enough, due to the necessary emphasis on tight shoes. Heredity plays a part when certain kinds of bone structure in the feet, such as flat feet, are inherited. So, it's important to not forget that you are at greater risk if other people in your family suffer from this foot disorder. In this case, you must be even more vigilant and pay attention to any symptoms of hallux valgus deformity you notice.