Seth is very confident and tuned in to the needs of the person that he works on. His great awareness of the body and deep understandings helps to promote healing. He has a wonderful, gentle yet firm touch and utilizes excellent deep-pressure techniques. Seth is the most grounded massage therapist I have worked with. Because Seth is professional, respectful, attentive and great massage therapist, I refer my clients to him regularly. I can finally stop hunting around for a massage therapist I trust! Dr. Sam Wheeler, Chiropractor A dull to sharp pain at your heel when arising from rest and during periods of weight bearing, often described as 'stone bruise'. To determine if you have foot pain that is on the outside of your foot, this is a common sign of a hallux valgus bunion. When not treated effectively, the complication can enlarge rather quickly, making it quite difficult to wear shoes or to walk without open shoes. In advanced cases of hallux valgus bunion, your may begin to notice that your large toe will turn inward which will cause rubbing on your other toes. This additional friction can lead to ulcers, blisters and general bone deformity in the foot. It is best, therefore, to treat a hallux valgus bunion early in its development. Always wear proper fitting shoes, especially comfortable shoes after bunion surgery. The key to buying good shoes is to shop for shoes in the evening, because the feet swell a bit in the latter part of the day. Buy shoes in which the ball of your foot fits properly into the widest part of the shoes. The bone is re-aligned and held in place with screws or metal pins until it heals. A cast is worn and the patient walks with crutches or a walker, not bearing any weight on this foot or an extended period of time. Again, this reduces the angle between the first and second metatarsal bones. We hear the same question over and over, maybe the most often; “Is what I have a bunion, or arthritis?” We hope this article can provide some information but to get the proper diagnoses, we recommend that you pay a visit to your podiatrist. Unlike with bunions, contributors to Hallux Limitus may include flat feet, Morton’s toe (when your second toe is longer than the big toe), acute trauma to the big toe such as a fracture, or repeat trauma to the big toe. Treatment of Hallux Limitus however, is similar to that of bunions and are listed below, starting with most conservative and ending with the dreaded surgery option. Although surgical approaches vary depending on the severity of the bunion and the doctor performing the procedure, a bunionectomy usually requires an incision on the top or side of the big toe joint. Doctors then remove and/or realign the bone and soft tissue to correct the bunion. Often, additional foot issues are addressed at this time as well. Patients will be asked to wear a surgical shoe until swelling decreases and they’re able to feel comfortable in a tennis shoe. During the first week after surgery it is important to elevate the foot as much as possible. Patients will likely experience painful throbbing if the foot is not properly elevated.