Hallux Valgus

Hallux Valgus: How To Prevent And Treat It?

Have you been feeling pain in your left foot for a while now when you put on your high heels? Do you also notice that there is a difference in the shape of your foot? You may have an onion.

There are several methods to correct and treat this deformation, and it is for this reason that I thought of writing this guide to you on hallux valgus to better inform you of it.

What Is A Hallux Valgus? Why Do I Have This Deformation On My Feet?

Hallux Valgus, or onion, is a deformation of the foot in the area of ​​the big toe. This plague, widespread throughout the world, is often hereditary in males and especially in Caucasian females.

So, very likely that you will see one appear if your mother or grandfather suffered from it.

The onion forms on the side of the first metatarsal, which is located just below the big toe. The latter will push outwards, which gives a V shape on one side of your foot.

What Are The Symptoms Of Hallux Valgus?

Got a weird bump on the foot and wondering if it’s okay or if there is something to do? An onion can occur in young people during growth as in older ones.

How do you know if you have a hallux valgus problem on your feet?

Here are the main symptoms:

Visible deformation of the big toe
Pain on the affected area but also around it, and sometimes on the sole of the foot
Redness and inflammation
An infection can also occur on the areas of friction caused by the deformation
Difficulty walking or running due to small sharp pains whenever there is pressure on your feet
Osteoarthritis can also result
Deformation of the nail
Second toe claw
Supra or infraductus of the toes
Hyperkeratosis (sore sole) under the middle heads or under the head of M2
Hyperkeratosis under the internal sesamoid (under the toe joint)
Pain of exostosis (benign tumor)
Sesamoidopathy, the joint in your toes that ignites, and can therefore lead to osteoarthritis

What Are The Risk Factors And Who Is Most At Risk Of Having Hallux Valgus?

Women are the most affected, 9 out of 10 cases of hallux valgus are women. *

Here are the main risk factors that can cause bunions on the feet:

High-heeled shoes and other shoes are said to be behind many of these problems.

Wearing poor quality or excessively damaged shoes or boots
Postmenopausal women and women in general with increased joint laxities Various deformations of the feet such as the Egyptian foot and the Greek foot, the longer the second toe the greater the risk of seeing a hallux valgus appear
Obesity problems can cause pressure overload on the foot and toes
People with flat feet
HOW TO PREVENT HALLUX VALGUS ON YOUR FEET?
Since the majority of cases are caused by the inheritance of a person’s family members, there is little or no way of escaping it.

However, for different cases of exceptions, such as obesity or high heels or uncomfortable shoes that are worn a little too often, it will then be necessary to take adequate measures for his physical health.

Here are some tips to avoid hallux valgus:

Put on quality shoes or boots suitable for your feet, or a basketball for hallux valgus
Don’t wait too long before buying a new pair of shoes
Take regular walks, jog or play sports moderately with good athletic shoes that hold your ankles in place Eat healthy, try a progressive diet to try to reduce your weight
If you often lift heavy weights or have sore feet for some reason, taking time off or having a foot massage by a specialist can prevent a lot of problems
HOW TO TREAT ONIONS ON THE FEET?

Hallux valgus is unfortunately not always easy to treat. There are, however, several solutions available to you.

Here are the main solutions to treat hallux valgus:

Specialized orthotics that hold the big toes to straighten them
Wearing specialized medical shoes
Dressings, pads and special socks
Podiatry, massage therapy, osteopathy, foot massage and cracking of the bones to replace them gradually
If everything fails and the pain continues, surgery will be required
HOW IS HALLUX VALGUS SURGERY DONE?

If the hallux valgus is too pronounced, the above-mentioned procedures will only delay the development of the onion.

There really aren’t any reliable non-surgical procedures to treat this disease. In most cases, affected people have difficulty living with it, whether for the somewhat repulsive visual appearance, and the intolerance to the chronic pain it produces when putting on, walking or running.

In the event, an osteotomy should be performed. Once diagnosed, here are the steps that a patient will go through during this surgical operation:

The surgeon will start with a complete analysis with the patient to fully understand all the parameters of the problem and its source
We will then proceed to a localized anesthesia in the foot or feet, as well as the ankles if necessary Using a device, the surgeon cuts the skin and then makes an incision in the foot
We then perform a longitudinal osteotomy of the 1st metatarsal, partially cutting the bone horizontally and then straightening it on the right path
The surgeon will then use small screws to fix the bone on its new axis
We close everything and that’s it, 10 minutes on average for the operation and voila!
Please note that hospitalization lasts an average of 3 days * and that there is very little postoperative pain, recovery is generally good.

Is the surgery for hallux valgus covered by social security?
According to the Humanis website, surgical operations are covered up to 80% on the basis of conventional rates, and the pre-operative consultation is covered up to 70% on the basic rate.

Social security does not however cover the cost of the co-payment and nor the hospital packages. The same goes for excess fees or personal comfort supplements which will be charged to the patient, or to the mutual health insurance, if applicable.

How much can surgery cost to treat hallux valgus?
There are several things to take into account before and after surgery.

Here is a small list of the main costs to pay for this type of problem:

Preoperative consultation, generally between 20 and 40 €
Fees related to specialized devices prescribed such as prostheses or adapted shoes, if applicable
Surgery, an onion osteotomy can cost between 6000 and 8000 €
The co-payment The compulsory hospital package of € 18 Costs related to the hospital stay
Fee overruns
Comfort costs such as a private room or accompanying costs
Should I have an operation for my hallux valgus?
In conclusion, a surgical operation seems to be an effective solution to treat hallux valgus but since it is expensive, it is advisable to arm yourself with a mutual health insurance above all.

If hallux valgus is still in its infancy, there may be a way to avoid the worst and contain the problem with the help of a specialized device. In all cases it is important not to leave foot disease lying around and to consult your general practitioner if you ever want to know more.