Ann wrote:
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I am 27 years old. I do not have bunions, but my mother does on both feet. I have a part-time teaching job, and only wear dress shoes for 10 hours a week. I also have been working out 5-7 days a week for the past 5 months. Occasionally I have been experiencing joint pain in one big toe. Is it possible that my new exercise routine is too tough on my feet? Could wearing dress shoes so infrequently be causing a problem? Is the joint pain a sign of a bunion beginning to develop? I appreciate any advice you can give me on how to protect my feet!
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Firstly, it would be of much value to know what constitutes, "occasionally," how severe the pain is when it occurs (scale 1 to 10), how long the episodes last and what, if anything, you are doing when the pain is elicited. It is indeed possible that both your exercise and/or your choice of shoe style could be a factor, but that's a no-brainer of an answer.
There are a couple of considerations which are commonly germane to joint pain. The first is the arthritities. Osteoarthritis is generally seen in older individuals, but it certainly can present in one of even your young age . . especially if there has been some previous trauma to the joint. Move the toe through its complete range of motion, both passively and actively, and both on and off of weight bearing. Note any pain, crepitation or restriction in range of motion. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease which can frequently manifest in individual relatively early in life, but you would likely already have knowledge of such a diagnosis if the disease were present. Probably, the most likely diagnosis is joint bursitis. Although the following is not a definitive diagnostic test, press firmly down, with your thumb only, on TOP of the joint, and see if pain is elicited.
Bunions, or at least the biomechanics which result in bunion formation have a strong hereditary predisposition, but pain is not generally a heralding symptom of bunion formation.
Only a hands-on examination by a good diagnostician will likely result in an accurate diagnosis. I would expect that x-rays will be taken, but they are likely to be of limited value other than to rule out certain potential problems. It is, however, incumbent upon you to share with your doctor all the details of which you are aware regaring your complaint, and not require him/her to pull it out of you. You'll say, "OF COURSE," but you would be surprised at to how bad some patients can be at this. Do not assume that just because you believe that something is unimportant that you need not disclose it.Get your thoughts together BEFORE seeing the doctor . .
and F O C U S !
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