Q I have early-stage hallux valgus. Can I be completely cured if I start treatment now?
A For mild deformities with an valgus angle of 20° or less, early treatment allows you to expect both pain relief and inhibition of deformity progression. While it is difficult to return the angle itself to 0° without surgery, it is entirely possible to recover to a level where there is no functional discomfort. The prognosis is best when shoe correction, exercise, and Korean medicine treatments are consistently combined.
Detailed Answer
Realistic goals for non-surgical treatment of mild hallux valgus: ① Maintain pain level between 0 and 1, ② Freeze the HVA angle at its current level, ③ Restore functional gait. Research shows that the rate of patients who switched to surgery after 5 years was significantly lower in the group that received early treatment compared to the group that did not. Starting treatment now is the choice that offers the highest chance of avoiding surgery.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, early-stage deformities show a rapid response to treatment because the blockage of Qi and blood circulation is relatively shallow and the degree of hardened blood stasis is low. If treatment is administered before the body's recovery function has significantly deteriorated, the healing power of muscles and ligaments improves, resulting in a pronounced effect in inhibiting deformation. Dongjedang recommends an 8-week intensive treatment program followed by a 3-month maintenance program for early-stage patients; if no noticeable improvement is found during this period, the direction of treatment is re-evaluated.
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