July 22 | Dr Hobeychi
Every day, you need your feet to keep you moving. Unfortunately, pain can hinder you fromgetting your daily tasks done or from enjoying the summer heat by walking in sandals orbarefoot.
Fortunately, several solutions exist to relieve the symptoms of hallux valgus andtherefore allow you to enjoy your vacations in peace.
- Buy Wide Shoes
- Plantar Orthotics
- Support Your Feet
- Foot Massage and Stretching
- Topical Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Drugs
- Foot Baths
- Maintaining a Healthy Weight
What Are Bunions?
Hallux valgus or bunions occur when the bone at the big toe joint is displaced. When thishappens, the pressure on the joint increases over time and the big toe is pushed inwardstowards the rest of the toes. This results in a large and painful lump sitting at the big toes' joint.
Bunions can cause incredible pain and can make wearing shoes difficult. In some cases,patients have difficulty walking and maintaining their balance. For this reason, it's best to speakwith a foot professional to get proper diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Hobeychi, podiatrist and ownerof the Clinic et Centre de Chirurgie Podiatrique, has more than 25 years of experience and hasperformed over thousands of minimally invasive podiatric surgeries. Bunion surgeries are onlydone in moderate or severe cases.
However, there are ways other than surgery in order to provide temporary relief from the paincaused by bunions.
Tip #1: Buy Wide Shoes
Remember that one of the leading causes of bunions are shoes that don't fit your feet well.Choosing the right type of shoes is essential in order to avoid the risk of increased deformity ofthe feet, but also in order to be able to walk without suffering. Shoes with wide toe areas leaveroom for the affected toe and therefore reduce the pain caused by hallux valgus.
Avoid high heels, pointed shoes and walking barefoot. If possible, you should opt for shoes thatprovide great support to the foot. As for the insole, it is preferably removable so that it can bereplaced by a plantar orthosis if necessary.
Tip #2: Plantar Orthotics
Manufactured and prescribed by a podiatrist, orthosis is an orthopedic device that is custom-made to adapt perfectly to the shape of your foot. Its purpose is to correct, compensate or evenpreserve the functions of lower limbs. In the case of bunions, the role of the plantar orthosis is toredistribute the weight under the foot in order to reduce pressure on the joint and provide bettercomfort to the patient.
Tip #3: Support Your Feet
Wearing a splint at night or when not wearing shoes can also help set your affected foot straightand ease discomfort. While you can do this yourself, it’s better if this is done by a doctor.
Using moleskin or gel pads are also a huge help. They reduce the pressure generated by theshoe and are easily available in drugstores.
You can also turn to shoe inserts or toe separator as they help position your foot correctly. Theycan be bought over the counter or prescribed by podiatrists.
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Tip #4: Foot Massage and Stretching
One of the best ways to relieve big toe pain, since it gets most of the stress and pressure, isthrough stretching and massage. These slow stretches and movements help increase bloodcirculation and relieve pressure on the surrounding muscles.
Using your finger, pull the affected big toe back into its normal position and hold it for 10 to 15seconds. Repeat these steps two to three times until you feel relief.
Tip #5: Topical Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Drugs
For temporary bunion pain relief, anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, and a topicalanalgesic could be a huge help. Depending on its active ingredients, some analgesics provide acooling sensation that blocks the body's pain signals, alleviating some of the pain anddiscomfort. These ointments are readily available in most drug stores, but it's best to speak toyour doctor about this first. You can book a consultation with us within a few days, at the timethat suits you best.
Tip #6: Foot Baths
After a long day of walking and standing, one of the best things to do is to take a hot, long bathto relax. The same can be done for sore feet and can help provide additional relief to those withhallux valgus.
Relieve bunion pain by soaking your feet in a warm or lukewarm bathtub or head over to a spafor that much-needed foot treatment. For a simple foot bath, add a few tablespoons of Epsomsalt, and fill up with water up to ankle level. Soaking your feet for 10 to 15 minutes should helpalleviate pain and discomfort. Click here to learn more about homemade recipes to try for yourfeet.
You can also soak your feet in cold water or apply ice packs for 10 to 15 minutes, many times aday, in order to help lessen the pain by cooling it.
Tip #7: Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Not only is maintaining a healthy weight essential to one's overall well-being, but it can also helpmanage bunion pain too. One of the main jobs of the feet is to provide support throughout theday. For overweight individuals, the extra weight can create additional pressure and stress onthe feet when walking or standing.
Maintaining a healthy weight can help relieve the feet of extra stress and gradually result ingreater comfort in the long run.
Conclusion: Hallux Valgus Can Be Painful, but There Are Things That Can Be Done toHelp Relieve the Pain
Many people suffer from bunions, bony bumps that form on the base of your big toe in your feet.When bunions persist, it’s possible that other foot-related injuries can occur if bunions are leftuntreated. Some of these include hammertoes, bursitis, and smaller bunions below the littletoes. Thankfully, quick and effective solutions exist for temporary relief after a long day. If thediscomfort increases over time or sudden pain arises, it's always better to seek medicalassistance from your podiatric clinic in order to get the best treatment for your condition. If youhave bunions and have tried all of the possible home remedies for it, it’s most likely that surgeryis the way to go to remove the pain caused by bunions and prevent complications.
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