10 Steps to get rid of Bunion Pain

10 Steps to get rid of Bunion Pain
6 min read

"Will my bunion go away on its own?" patients frequently ask their doctors. While the answer is, unfortunately, no, there are things you can do to keep your bunion from growing worse.

Bunions are not all caused by the same thing. A bunion can be caused by both heredity and your lifestyle. 

Females in their late 40s and older have a substantially higher risk of acquiring a bunion than anyone else. It doesn't seem right, does it?

Bunions are more common in women who frequently wear tight, narrow shoes. Tight-fitting shoes press on the outside of your toe, gradually forcing it inward. In some circumstances, high heels can raise pressure in the front of the foot and cause a variety of foot ailments.

A bunion is a painful protrusion on the outside of your foot that develops over time.

There is good news if your foot looks like this. By following these tips, you can delay the spread of the bunion and avoid increased pain:

1. Wear wide shoes

Most bunion symptoms are caused by shoe pressure against the bunion site. This frequently results in direct pain over the bunion and swelling, redness, and blistering. Wearing broad shoes helps reduce pressure on your foot because narrow shoes push your big toe in.

Sorry, ladies, but your favorite pumps may have to go. Choose flats with sufficient space in the toe box. Shoes that are overly short, tight, or sharply pointed, as well as those with heels higher than a couple of inches, should be avoided.

When purchasing your next pair of shoes, go to a store with well-trained shoe fitters to measure your feet. A qualified shoe fitter will guide you to the best-fitting shoes and frequently modify the shoe to fit difficult-to-fit feet. We strongly recommend Fleet Feet Sports and New Balance outlets.

Avoid high-priced, high-pressure shoe retailers.

2. Get better arch support in your shoes

Supporting your arch directs force away from the bunion. While a high-quality pre-made orthotic can help, it cannot replace a personalized orthotic. If you want to save money and buy from a store, opt for Powerstep or Superfeet brands. These two businesses are the gold standard in the industry for high-quality over-the-counter orthotics.

3. Stop wearing slippers at home and wear sandals with an arch support instead

The same idea applies as before. Avoid wearing narrow shoes and support your arch as much as possible. Narrow home slippers might cause more discomfort in the bunion area by pushing the big toe inward. Arch support also helps to relieve bunion pain.

4. Wear socks designed to reduce friction and add cushion

Cotton socks are not a good choice because they produce more friction.  Also, socks with toe seams should be avoided. These might create friction and discomfort in the bunion area. Look for seamless socks. These can be fashioned from a wool and spandex blend. Compression socks can also help to reduce friction. Avoid compression socks if you have diabetes since you don't want to restrict blood flow to your feet.

5. Wear a protective pad to reduce pressure on the bunion

Bunion pads can alleviate pain by redirecting pressure away from the afflicted joint. Make careful to initially test the pads for a brief length to ensure they are decreasing pressure rather than restricting toes and exacerbating the bunion bump.

6. Use a toe separator

A barrier between your first and second toes keeps them from rubbing together. Toe spacers are most effective when the big toe is deviated and in the early stages of bunions before the big toe gets more fixed in its position. While this will not cure or reverse your bunion, it may assist in straightening your toe joint while you use it. Some people get quick pain relief.

7. Ice the bunion for at least 10 minutes every night

This step, together with step eight, addresses the swelling after being on your feet all day, putting persistent pressure on the bunion area. Consistent ice therapy can help reduce inflammation around the toe joint.

8. Use a topical pain-relief gel over the bunion

Quality topical gels like Biofreeze can help with short-term pain and inflammation. Because it is only short relief, you may become bored of icing and applying gel all the time, and the cost will build up. This is a home cure for relieving bunion pain until you are ready for more advanced therapies. 

9. Bunion Splints

Bunion splints keep the first and second toes from rubbing together. This relieves pressure between the toes and may alleviate some bunion pain. It is advised to use this at night when sleeping. Inter options for reducing bunion pain, such as those described above. However, some have found bunion splints to be an excellent short-term treatment. There is no proof that bunion splints will repair or straighten the toe, even though several products on the market promote "bunion correction." Buyers should exercise caution.

10. Consider surgery to fix the bunion for good

The specialists in bunion treatment attempt to cure bunion pain without surgery whenever possible. Surgery should only be used as a last resort. If they recommend bunion surgery (bunionectomy), it is because alternative treatments would be useless at best and a waste of your time and money at worst.

Those who have been suffering from bunion pain for years are likely to have acquired a more severe bunion, and the therapies recommended in this guide will have little effect. When bunion pain starts to interfere with your everyday activities, surgery can be a highly beneficial alternative. All podiatrists do not treat bunions, so make sure yours is well-versed on the subject. You should ideally know someone who has had bunion surgery and can refer you to a qualified podiatrist. 

Bunion surgery, also known as a bunionectomy, is the most successful approach to cure a bunion, but it is not the only option.

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Amelia Grant 2
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