Posted by Bunion- Ella on Thu, May 17, 2012 @ 02:27 PM
If you're like many other women, you probably hit the gym to keep excess pounds at bay, have an intense grooming routine, choose comfy yet stylish clothing and allow yourself some alone time to soak in the tub and melt away stress. But are you applying this kind of total care to your feet?
Just like any other part of your body, your feet need exercise, regular cleaning, support and stress relief. Otherwise, you may end up with bunions, fallen arches, infected toenails or just plain ugly feet.
Work those feet
It may not occur to you that your feet need exercise because they seem to do enough work just carrying you from point A to point B. However, simple walking isn't enough – your tootsies need targeted stretching and strengthening exercises.
One simple thing you can do while watching TV is to simply stretch your toes out for 5 to 10 seconds, then squeeze them in for the same length of time. Ten sets of this exercise on each side should be adequate. Also try moving your ankles in circles clockwise and counter-clockwise to keep them flexible and strong. You may also find it beneficial to practice grabbing a towel with your toes for added strength.
And scrub 'em good, too!
Feet with dead skin and calluses are better off hidden by sneakers. If you want to bare your toes this summer, invest in a good scrub, a foot brush and a pumice stone, making sure to exfoliate at least once a week.
A quick at-home treatment requires little more than a tub, some Epsom salts and thick lotion. Soak your feet in hot – but not scalding – water and a pound of salts, as the minerals will dissolve and provide a soothing feeling while they neutralize bacteria. Give them a quick scrub, dry off with a soft towel and slather on a luxurious cream for the prettiest feet in all the land.
Don't abuse with shoes
Teetering around in heels may give you legs for days, but it may also leave you with bunions and corns. Luckily, this is easily avoidable by choosing more sensible footwear. If the thought makes you cringe, keep in mind that ballet flats with arch support and wedge heels are stylish options that won't cause you foot pain.
Posted by Bunion- Ella on Wed, May 16, 2012 @ 12:18 AM
Perhaps it's time to recognize how much our feet do for us. They literally bear all of our weight, get pinched into too-tight shoes and we expect them to deal with the stresses of running around town all day and night. All the while, they rarely get so much as a foot rub or some comfy orthotics to absorb some of the shock of hitting the pavement umpteen times a day.
However, when foot conditions are neglected, they can come back to bite us.
A recent study commissioned by Merck revealed that 91 percent of Americans have had some kind of foot pain in their lives - likely stemming from overuse, bunions, fallen arches, etc. - and 56 percent of them have had to sit out of athletics or other activities as a result of their lower extremity conditions.
Foot pain gets in the way of taking extra steps
One of the most widely distributed pieces of advice for people to get more exercise is to make small efforts like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and walking to nearby destinations rather than driving. However, foot problems appear to be a barrier to these activities.
The survey showed that about half of U.S. adults skip the stairwell and go straight for the elevator when there's a choice, and a whopping 78 percent of respondents reported driving to locations where walking would have been feasible.
Good news for comfy shoes
Researchers also asked the respondents about the shoes they wear on an average day. The results reveal that Americans may be pretty sensible when it comes to footwear, aiming for a balance between comfort and style.
A total of 86 percent of women said that they would pick shoes that are easy on their feet over a pair of trendy, towering heels. However, 58 percent of ladies also said they wear high heels at least once a week.
On some days, you may just want to say, "To heck with the office dress code" and toss on a pair of sneakers. And you wouldn't be alone, either, as the survey showed that 69 percent of workers have donned shoes that are too casual for work, simply because the footwear was the most comfortable option.
Posted by Bunion- Ella on Wed, May 16, 2012 @ 12:08 AM
A small percentage of ladies I know are lucky enough to have avoided the gray hair, crow's feet and weight gain that often come along with aging. However, their true age becomes apparent when looking at them below the ankles, as feet plagued with bunions, fungus-ridden toenails, corns, calluses and hammer toe are all signs that a person is past their prime.
Feet that have carried people for decades as they trotted about town in towering stilettos – or even the most sensible shoes - are unlikely to hide their age, and Botox can't help you here, ladies. Every step you take, every move you make, your feet are feeling it.
So what exactly happens as you get older? A number of things, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. Perhaps the most significant change is the weakening of the tendons and ligaments that hold bones and joints in place. Basically, there's only so much these connectors (think of them as rubber bands of varying size and strength) can take, and once they stretch to capacity, they lose their ability to expand and contract – actions that are integral to the movement and support of the foot, the news source reported.
Once the connective tissue loses its flexibility, the foot starts to spread because it can no longer handle the weight and motion of the body the way it once did – say, in one's 20s or 30s.
You know where I'm going with this, ladies: Your feet will get bigger – meaning you'll need to ditch your favorite shoes – as you age, and taking care of them is oh-so important to making the problems stop there.
Continue wearing size seven shoes when you're actually an eight, and you're liable to develop bunions, hammer toe, fallen arches, corns and calluses. This is because shoes that are too tight don't properly support the foot and cause friction.
It may seem obvious to you that wearing well-fitted, supportive shoes can promote foot health as you age. People entering their golden years may also consider non-invasive means of bunion correction, because podiatrist Leonard Vekkos recently told the Chicago Tribune that bunion surgery should be a last-resort option.
"Addressing these issues depends on the symptoms and how much it impacts quality of life. I am not a believer in performing cosmetic foot surgery because of the potential complications," Vekkos said, quoted by the news source.
Posted by Bunion- Ella on Thu, May 10, 2012 @ 05:50 PM
This past weekend, I had a girls night in with a dear friend of mine. As we sipped wine and talked about work, love and shoes, I looked down at her feet - which are typically clad in stilettos - and noticed that the poor girl has bunions. 
You can imagine my conflicted feelings about broaching the embarrassing topic. On the one hand, I have my own foot pain issues to share. On the other, she could easily take offense to my boldness at pointing out her bony deformities.
I waited, downed another glass of pinot noir and made my case for non-invasive bunion correction.
Why you can't ignore bunions
I gently let my friend know that foot conditions like bunions, as well as hammer toe and fallen arches, are almost guaranteed to get worse if they're not treated. At first, the little bump on the inside edge of your foot is just a cosmetic issue that restricts the types of shoes you can wear - a fact which caused her a startle.
Once bunions become advanced, they can reduce flexibility in your foot and even change the way you walk - an effect that can lead to a number of other lower extremity problems. Worse yet, the pain can get to a degree that it keeps you from exercising or just carrying out everyday tasks, as in, buh-bye marathon shopping trips.
Non-invasive is the way to go
In general, elective surgery has risks that potentially outweigh benefits, which we are reminded of when watching the cast of Real Housewives of Orange County. Infection, scarring, over-correction and recurrence of bumps following bunion surgery are known to occur in an estimated one in 10 patients, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Moreover, bunion splints and orthotics have been shown to do the job, so why resort to going under the knife? I showed my chum my beloved Bunion Aid, which keeps my bony deformities in check but still allows me to move about the house while I'm wearing it, thanks to its hinged design.
It's all in the shoes
Finally, I had to break it to my dear friend that she needs to lay off the stilettos from time to time, as these shoes are known to exacerbate bunions and hammer toe. I even offered to help her go shopping for some cute flats or loafers - noting that we'll need to pick a pair with a roomy toe box and good arch support.
Remember, readers: Friends don't let friends walk around with bunions.
Posted by Bunion- Ella on Thu, May 10, 2012 @ 05:42 PM
We talk a lot on this blog about how teetering around all day in towering Christian Louboutins can exacerbate foot problems like bunions or hammer toe. But the shoes he's got displayed at the London Design Museum look like they're capable of far more than causing foot pain – some of them look like they could kill a man.
The Huffington Post, along with other media outlets, reported on the exhibit, which features metallic heels with spikes jutting out of the back, stilettos with spikes in place of a platform and sandals with a broken cage over the forefoot.
"While admiring the beautiful works of shoe art that were on display in London, we couldn't help but notice how dangerous some of the Louboutins shoes are!" the HuffPo reported. "Yes, dangerous, and we're not talking because of the heel size."
The exhibit runs until July 9, and also includes displays on how Louboutin's design process works and shoe production, from the making of a prototype to mass production in a factory.
UK news source Metro reported on the exhibit as well, touting it as a presentation of "burlesque, circus, sex and bondage."
"Carousels, mirrored shelves (to reflect back Louboutin's signature red soles) and velvet frame 200 of his creations, in segments that examine his devotion to artisanal skills, the chaos of his work space and the building of a shoe," the Metro reported.
At the end of the exhibit, patrons are treated to a hologram performance by burlesque star Dita Von Teese.
While promoting the show, Louboutin spoke to Reuters about his ongoing legal battle with Yves St. Laurent over his trademarked red sole featured on every pair of his footwear. A judge has ruled that Louboutin doesn't have a right to monopolize the use of cherry-hued soles, and the designer subsequently filed an appeal. The suit is still in the Court of Appeals.
The designer also told Reuters addressed his previous comments that high heels are supposed to be painful, and that women who can't handle the discomfort shouldn't wear the towering footwear.
"When I do a shoe, I don't want to evoke comfort...saying that suffering to be beautiful, it doesn't work. It doesn't give you nice smiles, that's a sure thing," said Louboutin, quoted by Reuters.
Posted by Bunion- Ella on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 @ 05:22 PM
One would imagine that having a ballet company full of dancers with bunions, hammer toe and sore ankles would be something like having a shop stocked with damaged goods. As such, the New York City Ballet goes to great extents to make sure its ballerinas have healthy feet. In fact, its efforts are so tremendous that someone made a film about it.
The documentary is titled Point Shoes: The Importance of The Perfect Fit, and it chronicles the shoe-buying process for the prestigious ballet company – a hefty endeavor, apparently.
$70 a day keeps bunions at bay?
Each principal ballerina gets a new pair of custom-made point shoes each day, costing about $70 per dancer and adding up to $500,000 each year for the company as a whole.
"I think every girl in the company would say their shoe is the most important part of the performance," said ballerina Megan Fairchild, quoted by the Huffington Post. "You want to make sure you don't have to worry about any extra things besides your dancing."
Every tailor-made pair of pointe shoes is subsequently busted, broken, shaven and sewn so they perfectly suit the preferences of each dancer. Sometimes, ballerinas will even tape their toes to keep blisters at bay – a common occurrence when one spends eight hours per day on their toes.
The man behind the curtain
The task of buying shoes for the dancers of the New York City Ballet is so involved that it's a job on its own. Angel Betancourt is the company's shoe supervisor, seeing to it that each dancer's feet are adorned with fresh, pink satin pointe shoes from Freed of London.
"Everybody here has specifications and the shoes are made according to that. If they cut the shoes wrong, they will know it, the ladies will know it," Betancourt said, quoted by the Daily Mail.
There is relief from foot pain for dancers
Ballerinas who return from rehearsal or a performance with sore toes may want to consider icing their feet and taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, like aspirin or ibuprofen. Additionally, dancers who develop bunions may be interested to know that bunion splints and orthotics have been shown to reduce the appearance of bony deformities without bunion surgery.
Posted by Bunion- Ella on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 @ 05:09 PM
In the olden days, it wasn't uncommon for a woman to endure painful foot binding or pinching corsets in order to appear fashionable. While we're not exactly cracking bones left and right to fit into today's hottest trends, many women are still going under the knife so they can more easily wear pointy-toed stilettos and the like.
I've talked about the Cinderella Procedure in previous posts, detailing the set of operations that can include bunion surgery, toe shortening, toe lengthening, foot narrowing and injections to pad the ball of the foot.
Bunion surgery: A risky operation
The procedure has been touted by some as a way to obtain aesthetically pleasing tootsies, but physicians warn that all surgeries come with risk, and the foot is a rather important part of the body to be tampering with. As such, elective operations on the foot may not be a great idea.
"Our function is to relieve pain and correct deformities. We are not trained to allow women to fit into a narrower shoe," said Kathleen Stone, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association, quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
Complications that may arise following bunion surgery include infection, bunion recurrence, nerve damage, continued pain and over-correction, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
These side effects occur in about one in 10 bunion surgery patients. New York dermatologist Debra Jailman was one of the unlucky ones. She told the Wall Street Journal about her experience.
"I should never have had foot surgery," said Jailman. "Now my foot hurts all the time. I can't wear high heels ever. I can't play tennis. It's really impacted my life. It limits me tremendously."
How much are open-toed shoes worth?
CBS News also reported on the topic, talking to one woman who was getting her hammer toe shortened so she could don open-toed heels. However, the news source also concluded that elective foot surgery may not be a sound idea.
"The complications can be devastating. Some women have had to go through five or six surgeries just to get back to walking on their foot, much less getting into their shoes," said Stuart Miller, D.P.M, quoted by the news source.
Ladies who are thinking about undergoing the costly, risky operation may want to consider all of their options. For instance, using bunion splints and orthotics regularly has been shown to help women reduce the appearance of bony foot deformities – sans scalpel.
Posted by Bunion- Ella on Tue, Apr 24, 2012 @ 01:05 AM
Last summer, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson revealed her bunions in public, leading numerous media outlets to plaster images of the voluptuous domestic goddess' feet on their pages. Well, it appears as though the attention affected Lawson, because she's since resorted to bunion surgery – which she said had a positive unintended side effect.
Lawson spoke with UK news source The Telegraph recently, revealing that she had bunions removed on both feet and that the subsequent pain was so intense that it prevented her from getting up for second servings or making midnight trips to the fridge.
"I couldn't walk to the fridge afterwards and, actually, it's quite a good diet; not because I stopped eating but because you can say to someone, 'Can you get me a slice of cake?' but it's kind of embarrassing to say, "And now could you get me a second slice?'" Lawson said, quoted by the news source. "And then when I did start hobbling around I had to feel I was hungry to go to the fridge. And that was quite good, because I suppose it trains you a bit."
Excess weight and foot pain have a cyclical relationship
It's not a rare thing for bunion correction to help people lose weight, though Lawson's situation may not be typical. Usually, fixing foot conditions – such as bunions, hammer toe and fallen arches – allows people to exercise more comfortably, thereby helping them shed pounds.
Conversely, carrying excess weight around can be the cause of foot pain. Everyday Health reported that being just 25 pounds overweight can lead to issues with the lower extremities, especially the foot and ankle.
Bunion surgery is not to be taken lightly
While bunion surgery may have worked for Lawson in unexpected ways, the operation comes with risks of infection, over-correction, scarring and bunion recurrence. (Moreover, those who are especially prone to overeating won't let crutches get in the way of their snacking. Can we say 'mini-fridge'?)
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends trying non-invasive methods of bunion correction before going under the knife. These include wearing supportive shoes with a roomy toe box, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and icing bunions when they become painful or inflamed.
Additionally, many individuals report that bunion splints and orthotics are able to help reduce the appearance of bony foot deformities – sans scalpel.
Posted by Bunion- Ella on Mon, Apr 23, 2012 @ 07:42 PM
Ladies and gents, there's a reason I dedicate my time, energy and – ahem – writing talents to this blog: in order to save you all from the dangers of bunion surgery. (You thought I was only here to dish on celebrities and talk about shoes, didn't you?)
For many women, it's already too late for me to reach them. They've gone under the knife and lived to tell their tales on the internet.
One such bunion surgery patient is Bridget Schaap, who told her story on the National Blood Clot Alliance website, StopTheClot.org. The woman was living in Chicago at the time of her operation, and she wrote that it turned out to be a life-threatening event due to a blood clot that formed in her leg following her surgery. She described the operation itself in somewhat gruesome terms.
"The doctor corrected more than he anticipated, including placement of temporary pins in six toes, cutting [off] a tendon on the top of my right foot, removal of bone from four toes, and shaving bunions from both of my feet. I spent the first few days after surgery in agony, hating any time I had to walk to the bathroom and sobbing each time I had to put weight on my throbbing, swollen feet," Schaap wrote.
Following bunion surgery, when pain and swelling persisted in her calf, Schaap consulted a nurse who instructed her to go to the emergency room, where she was treated for the sometimes life-threatening condition. The woman reported that her birth control medication and frequent air travel may have contributed to the formation of her blood clot.
Freelance writer Michele Bourdo wrote about her bunion surgery experience on the blog Fitfoodista.com. She said that while she has friends who healed from their operation with little more than a limp, her surgery forced her to be on crutches for two weeks.
"The surgery itself was pretty much run-of-the-mill hacking, sawing, drilling and screwing," Bourdo wrote.
The writer eventually saw the silver lining of her bunion surgery trauma, which included cleaning the floor with her tush as she scooted to get around.
See, folks? This is why people with bunions should keep on using their bunion splints and orthotics in order to avoid the dreaded scalpel.
Posted by Bunion- Ella on Wed, Apr 18, 2012 @ 03:05 PM
We do a lot of talking on this blog about how expensive bunion surgery can be, and that it's best to avoid the operation to save money for shoe shopping. In fact, an article in USA Today estimates that the bunion removal procedure can set you back $3,500 to $4,000, not taking into account insurance coverage. Still, that's a whole lot of Manolos.
So, you can imagine the rage and confusion that Aetna executives must have felt upon seeing an alleged $66,100 charge for a bunionectomy. The insurance company recently filed a lawsuit against several California surgery centers over fraudulent charges made for procedures performed on out-of-network patients.
According to media reports, Aetna named 11 defendants in its case, including Bay Area Surgical Management (BASM), for luring in out-of-network patients with the promise of waiving co-payments and subsequently billing the insurance company for up to 2,500 percent more than what is typically charged for medical procedures.
The "scheme must be promptly declared illegal to preclude its continuation and replication throughout California, and to avoid the potential consequences of irreparably damaging a system of healthcare delivery on which millions of citizens rely," Aetna wrote in its suit, filed in the California state court in Santa Clary County.
Of course, BASM denies the allegations made by Aetna and representatives said the suit is merely retaliation for cases BASM filed against the insurance company for unpaid bills. These suits have yet to go to trial, according to media reports.
This isn't the first time gavels have gone flying over bunion surgery. In 2010, a woman in Galveston, Texas sued her podiatrist over a botched bunionectomy. She claimed that the initial operation left her disfigured and required two corrective surgeries. After the series of operations, the plaintiff developed an infection and had to have a toe amputated.
See, folks? This is why Bunionella stands by her bunion splints. They're low-cost and non-invasive. Moreover, conservative methods of bunion correction results in a lower risk of complications, which means no unsightly scars or potentially toe-threatening infections. That's right, just be sure to use your bunion splints at night or while resting, and insert orthotics into your shoes and you may be on the road to pain-free bunion correction.