Do you feel intermittent foot pain when standing for prolonged periods? Perhaps even a short walk triggers pain in your bunion.
Fortunately, there are ways you can lessen the negative impact of bunions without having to go under the knife. By seeking help from a podiatrist early on, you can halt the progression of your bunion and reduce the need for surgery.
To help you out, we asked our team at Ani Medical Group-Orthopaedic & Spine Institute of New Jersey about their recommendations for patients looking to relieve bunion symptoms.
Tight shoes, especially high heels, can put a lot of pressure on your big toe, causing it to bend toward the toe next to it. A bunion can develop if the joint in the big toe becomes misaligned.
To prevent the misalignment from worsening, opt for shoes that offer plenty of space for your toes.
If you spend a lot of your time on your feet, you may experience redness and inflammation on your bunion and the surrounding area.
If these symptoms won’t go away on their own after you remove your shoes, apply some ice on the bunion. Doing this won’t make the bunion go away, but it can reduce inflammation.
There are many reasons why bunions occur, including genetics, hormones, and uncomfortable shoes.
Regardless of the reason why the joint in your big toe has started moving towards the adjacent toe, stopping the movement and offering support to your big toe joint will halt the progression of the bunion.
Using spacers between your big toe and the toe next to it prevents the joint in the big toe from bending. You may also benefit from wearing pads in your shoes or wearing customized splints during sleep.
Custom orthotics, or shoe inserts, can help you evenly distribute pressure throughout your foot, which in turn can reduce your discomfort and uneven wear patterns on your shoes. Shoe inserts can also decrease the angle of your big toe joint and reduce pain during long periods of walking or standing.
A bunion is a bony protrusion that forms at the base of the big toe. In its early stages, a bunion may impair the movement of your big toe. However, as the protrusion grows, you may find it more difficult to shop for shoes, and you may also develop persistent pain.
Left untreated, bunions grow in size, making surgery your only option for alleviating the symptoms of the condition. However, if you treat bunions early on, you may be able to avoid invasive procedures and live symptom-free.
If you want to alleviate your bunion-related symptoms, contact us to schedule an appointment.
