Boycott Your Bunions: Treatment Options For Pain Relief

Not only are they important for walking and moving, but your feet also act as essential parts of your body's foundation. Unfortunately, painful conditions that affect the feet can occur with age. An estimated 23 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 65 have bunions, but most people do not truly understand this condition.

Bunions cause the big toe to move towards the second toe, which often creates a bump on the outer edge of the big toe. This bump is usually painful, reducing your ability to wear shoes or walk comfortably. Finding relief from bunion pain is possible. Here are a few options your podiatrist may recommend for bunions.

Special Shoes

Most people assume bunions are caused by certain types of shoes. Wearing dress shoes or shoes that are too narrow or small may increase the risk, but the underlying cause of bunions is genetics.

Of course, wearing specialized shoes can help reduce the pain associated with your bunions. Allow your doctor to measure your feet. This will allow your doctor to choose a pair of shoes that will not constrict your foot.

If one of your feet is larger than the other, you should buy the pair of shoes in a larger size. Use insoles to fill the spaces or gaps in the shoe with the smaller foot.

The shoes should be made out of some stretchable material, which decreases joint pressure and irritation. Also, the shoes should have a wide and deep toe box to create room between the bunion and the shoe.

Splints and Spacers

Podiatrists will also recommend wearing splints and spacers to help your bunion heal.

Splints push the big toe back into an aligned, normal position. This not only helps the bunion heal, but it can also reduce the pain and discomfort the abnormal position of the big toe causes. Thankfully, bunion splints can be worn at night, which allows you to find relief without affecting your ability to walk during the day.

Spacers are also great options to consider for bunion relief. Wearing a toe spacer between the big toe and second toe will reduce pressure on the bunion while repositioning the big toe in a normal manner. For the most comfortable fit, choose a gel spacer, which is softer and easier on your feet.

Living with a bunion is possible, but it can cause a great deal of discomfort. To learn more about solutions for bunion relief, consult your foot specialist today. You can also visit websites like betterfootcareohio.com.


Share