Bunions, a genetic condition in which the big toe joint begins to lean inwards and becomes enlarged, can also be triggered by wearing very pointy shoes.
Pig prices have also been hit by rising feed costs, and the shortage has been compounded by a fall in the number of pigs being raised, which started earlier last year when prices were relatively low.
Or I did until a little more than a year ago, as I was recovering from surgery and taking on too much work, as freelancers nervous about the near future tend to do.
The real test of the rest of the world's stamina will come over the next year, as the negative wealth effects of falling home prices start to weigh on American consumer spending.