Bunions are a common condition and are easy to spot. If there is a protrusion below your big toe or pinky toe, then it is most likely a bunion. Bunions can cause discomfort or pain, especially in the wrong shoes. Thankfully, there are a fewsimple ways to relieve some of the annoyances caused by bunions. Wearing a toe spacer can help realign your bones, but they should only be worn in moderation. Toe spacers act as braces for your toes but wearing them for too long can cause painful leg cramps. Changing your footwear can also impact your bunions. Shoes that are wider around the toes give bunions space and can relieve some of the pain associated with narrow toed shoes. Bunion massages may also help alleviate some pain. Bunions have trigger points that cause muscles to shorten and massaging the area can help to stretch the surrounding muscles. If you have a bunion and would like to learn more about alleviating uncomfortable symptoms, it is recommended you speak with a podiatrist to learn about the right treatment for you.
If you are suffering from bunions, contact one of our podiatrists of Sayville Foot Care. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
What Is a Bunion?
A bunion is formed of swollen tissue or an enlargement of boney growth, usually located at the base joint of the toe that connects to the foot. The swelling occurs due to the bones in the big toe shifting inward, which impacts the other toes of the foot. This causes the area around the base of the big toe to become inflamed and painful.
Why Do Bunions Form?
Genetics – Susceptibility to bunions are often hereditary
Stress on the feet – Poorly fitted and uncomfortable footwear that places stress on feet, such as heels, can worsen existing bunions
How Are Bunions Diagnosed?
Doctors often perform two tests – blood tests and x-rays – when trying to diagnose bunions, especially in the early stages of development. Blood tests help determine if the foot pain is being caused by something else, such as arthritis, while x-rays provide a clear picture of your bone structure to your doctor.
How Are Bunions Treated?
- Refrain from wearing heels or similar shoes that cause discomfort
- Select wider shoes that can provide more comfort and reduce pain
- Anti-inflammatory and pain management drugs
- Orthotics or foot inserts
- Surgery
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Sayville, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
FAQs
How can you get rid of bunion pain?
- Choose the right shoes. Low-heeled shoes with a wide toe box reduce pressure on your big toe and provide plenty of room.
- Add some cushion. Wearing a bunion pad can keep your big toe from rubbing against your shoe.
- Stretch. ...
- Apply ice. ...
- Try a pain reliever.
Do
- wear wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole.
- hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel to the bunion for up to 5 minutes at a time.
- try bunion pads (soft pads you put in shoes to stop them rubbing on a bunion) – you can buy these from pharmacies.
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- Massage and Exercise Your Feet. One of the simplest ways to treat your bunions without surgery is to, in fact, exercise your feet. ...
- Take a Paracetamol. ...
- Soak Your Feet in a Foot Bath. ...
- Ice Your Feet. ...
- Put Your Feet Up! ...
- Try Castor Oil. ...
- Try Bunion Pads. ...
- Try Bunion Splints.
A fluid-filled sac, called a bursa, cushions the bone near the joint on your big toe. When that joint gets bigger because of a bunion, the bursa can get swollen and painful -- that's called bursitis. This can make it hurt even more and may damage the smooth tissue that covers the joint, called cartilage.
Can you straighten a bunion without surgery? ›
In most cases, bunions can be treated nonsurgically. One of the podiatrists from our team can examine your bunion(s) and recommend a conservative treatment which includes one or more of the following: Custom shoe orthotics (inserts) that relieve pressure on the joint and align your weight in a more beneficial way.
What flares up bunion pain? ›
A bunion is a condition in which the big toe gets misaligned and angles in toward the other toes. This, in turn, causes the base of the toe to jut out, forming a bump at the side of the foot. For many people, bunion pain flares up if they wear shoes that put pressure on the affected toe.
Is walking barefoot good for bunions? ›
Going barefoot is ideal in the beginning stages of bunions. When barefoot, the joints of the toes will get stronger, an important part of good foot health.
What is the main cause of bunions? ›
Bunions are usually caused by prolonged pressure put on the feet that compresses the big toe and pushes it toward the second toe. Over time, the condition may become painful as extra bone grows where the base of the big toe meets the foot.
Does Vicks vapor rub help bunions? ›
Vicks VapoRub
Sounds crazy, right? But, according to the NIH, menthol and camphor — two of the active ingredients in Vicks VapoRub — may help soothe inflamed joints and muscles by acting as a topical anesthetic. Treating bunions with Vicks may provide temporary, superficial pain relief.
Do toe spacers help bunions? ›
Toe spacers can offer several benefits for those suffering from bunions, including reducing pressure on the affected joint, preventing the toes from rubbing against each other, and potentially slowing the progression of the bunion.
Bunion correctors and guards do have a place in the treatment of bunions, but it may not be what you think. Unfortunately, there is no medical research or data to support the claim that bunion correctors straighten the big toe. If your bunions are pretty severe, no plastic or elastic device is going to correct them.
What relieves bunion pain instantly? ›
NSAIDs medicines can help relieve both swelling and pain, and they start working within an hour – so they can help you find quick relief from bunion pain. Common NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve). NSAIDs aren't recommended for long-term use or for people with certain chronic conditions.
Are Crocs good for bunions? ›
Crocs in the Clinic
“These shoes are especially light,” says Harold Glickman, DPM, former president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). “They have huge room in the toe that affords the front part of the foot lots of room, especially for people with bone deformities like bunions and hammer toe.
What does a severe bunion look like? ›
The signs and symptoms of a bunion include: A bulging bump on the outside of the base of your big toe. Swelling, redness or soreness around your big toe joint. Corns or calluses — these often develop where the first and second toes rub against each other.
Does bunion pain ever go away? ›
Persons with bunions experience inflammation, pain while walking, and blisters. Bunions won't go away without treatment. If left untreated, bunions get worse. Treatment is geared to slow the progression of the bunion and reduce the pain.
What ointment is good for bunions? ›
Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel
Although this product is formulated to help topically combat arthritis, this is great for bunion relief, according to Sharkey.
Bunions are a common condition and are easy to spot. If there is a protrusion below your big toe or pinky toe, then it is most likely a bunion. Bunions can cause discomfort or pain, especially in the wrong shoes. Thankfully, there are a fewsimple ways to relieve some of the annoyances caused by bunions. Wearing a toe spacer can help realign your bones, but they should only be worn in moderation. Toe spacers act as braces for your toes but wearing them for too long can cause painful leg cramps. Changing your footwear can also impact your bunions. Shoes that are wider around the toes give bunions space and can relieve some of the pain associated with narrow toed shoes. Bunion massages may also help alleviate some pain. Bunions have trigger points that cause muscles to shorten and massaging the area can help to stretch the surrounding muscles. If you have a bunion and would like to learn more about alleviating uncomfortable symptoms, it is recommended you speak with a podiatrist to learn about the right treatment for you.