Your big toe likely hurts in heels due to the increased pressure and unnatural positioning they force upon your feet, often leading to issues like bunions.
Here's a breakdown of the causes:
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Increased Pressure on the Forefoot: High heels shift your weight forward, concentrating pressure on the ball of your foot and, specifically, your big toe joint. This can irritate existing conditions or create new problems.
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Bunion Formation: The concentrated pressure can contribute to the formation of a bunion. A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint where your big toe connects to your foot.
- Mechanism: The pressure forces the big toe to bend inwards, towards the other toes. Over time, this misalignment causes the joint to become inflamed and enlarged, resulting in a bunion.
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Toe Cramping and Nerve Compression: The cramped space within the toe box of high heels can compress nerves and cause toe cramping. This is especially true if the heels are pointed or narrow.
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Aggravation of Existing Conditions: If you already have mild bunions, arthritis, or other foot problems, wearing heels will almost certainly exacerbate the pain and discomfort.
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Hallux Rigidus: This is a form of arthritis affecting the big toe joint, making it stiff and painful. Heels can worsen the pain and limit movement further.
In summary, the pain in your big toe when wearing heels is primarily due to the unnatural pressure and positioning that heels force on your foot, leading to bunion development, nerve compression, and aggravation of pre-existing conditions.
