What do Meghan Markle, Victoria Beckham, and Oprah Winfrey All Suffer From? Bunions!

Yes. Believe it or not, these big-time celebrities are not all perfect. In fact, they are just like us in that that they have foot problems that aren’t always easy to hide. Next time they wear open-toed shoes, you’ll be able to see the size of the deformity on their feet. Their bunions, bony growths at the big toe joint, make their feet look misshapen and can cause them a lot of pain. And even though high heels or pointy toe shoes can make bunions worse, they continue to wear them for fashion’s sake. So are bunions a big problem? Well, as you can see, Markle, Beckham, and Winfrey all live their day-to-day without major issues. It shows us that bunions are definitely something we can live with, as long as it doesn’t become increasingly worse. The seemingly tolerable symptoms include a bony protrusion, as well as redness, pain, and swelling at the bunion site (on the outer part of the big toe joint or the pinky toe joint). The pain can come and go, so for some, it’s a mild nuisance. However, for many others, bunions can cause serious pain and become so deformed that shoes do not fit properly. It can really get in the way of your lifestyle! So what can I do about bunions? You’ll want to STOP wearing uncomfortable shoes like high heels. The forces placed on the big toe joint from instability and tiptoeing causes the bony spur to develop. Additionally, you can try to use bunion pads to reduce irritation caused by rubbing against your shoes. If the bunion is big enough, you may have to begin shopping for shoes with roomier toe boxes so that your feet are not squished together (making the bunion worse). If you or an older loved one is suffering from bunion pain, custom orthotics may be helpful to reduce the pressure on the big toe joint. Our podiatrists can make a custom-molded orthotic so that they create a perfect fit for your feet. For those who have severe pain or deformities, you may ultimately need surgery to find relief. However, this is the last resort, after all other treatments have been proven unsuccessful. If your bunions look like those of Markle, Beckham, or Winfrey, and it’s been painful (physically or mentally), consult with us today! Make an appointment at Alamitos-Seal Beach Podiatry Group to get an assessment. One of our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Douglas H. Richie, Dr. Jeremy L. Cook, Dr. Faye E. Izadi can check your feet at our Orange County locations in Seal Beach, CA and Los Alamitos, CA.