Bunions are a foot deformity that causes a bump to form on the outer part of the big toe. It starts as a minor problem and continues to grow without treatment. In severe cases, bunions may require surgery, but you can get relief without invasive measures.
At the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico in Roswell, Dr. David Ball offers foot care and foot and ankle surgery. He’s an experienced podiatrist providing conservative options like orthotics and physical therapy to relieve painful bunions.
Bunions can develop for a variety of reasons, including genetics and an abnormal foot structure. Anything that puts excess pressure on the metatarsophalangeal joint in the foot can cause the bone to move out of alignment and the traditional bony bump.
People with bunions may not notice pain, especially in the early stages. It takes years of pressure for the bone to move out of alignment, during which time you may not have any symptoms.
However, as the deformity becomes more pronounced, most people experience discomfort, especially when wearing specific shoes. For example, if your shoe has a narrow toe box, the bump can rub against it, causing friction and pain.
Bone movement may also cause other symptoms, such as stiffness, redness, and corns and calluses. Standing for long periods and wearing tight-fitting shoes aggravate the issue.
Bunions are extremely common, but most people don’t require surgery to get relief. The sooner you intervene with a bunion, the less likely it is to get to the surgical stage of treatment.
As soon as you notice a bunion forming, it’s essential to make the correct choices to avoid severe pain. We offer the following three nonsurgical options for successful relief of bunion pain:
Shoes don’t cause bunions, but they do contribute to pain and worsening of the condition. It’s essential to make changes to avoid excess pressure on the big toe joint.
Choose shoes with a wide toe box to reduce pressure on the bunion. It’s also crucial to avoid high heels and any other shoes that put most of your weight on the ball of the foot.
We recommend custom orthotics to address abnormal walking patterns or foot issues that aggravate bunions. Orthotics address specific foot concerns to provide cushioning, support, and stability.
Physical therapy is an excellent option for pain relief from bunions. During appointments, a therapist addresses specific concerns and provides exercises to strengthen the foot muscles and supportive tissues, helping prevent the bunion from worsening.
There are other steps besides shoe changes, orthotics, and physical therapy for bunion pain relief. For example, try heat or ice therapy to ease inflammation and relax the foot’s tissues.
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications are great for pain relief during an exacerbation of pain. We can also provide steroid injections for severe bunion pain that doesn’t respond to oral medications.
Night splints are a good option to keep the toe in alignment while you sleep, while specialized pads and cushions are available to keep friction off the bony bump on your toe.
Surgery is only necessary when conservative options have failed to provide pain relief, or you have difficulty walking or wearing shoes because of a bunion.
If you’re dealing with bunion pain and need relief, call us in Roswell, New Mexico, to schedule an appointment or request a consultation online.
