Medically Reviewed by Dr. Rachel N. Verville
March 13, 2019
For people who have to deal with bunions, one of the biggest reasons they visit Dr. Verville is to find out how they can make them stop hurting. A bunion is a soft tissue deformity of the foot that can cause pain. When Frisco residents suffer from severe bunions, surgery may be required, but most often Dr. Verville can provide non-surgical bunion treatment options for her patients.
But why are bunions so painful? Well, after years of putting incorrect pressure on the toes, the motion forces the big toe to turn inward toward the second toe. This causes the bone in the joint space to change shape and become stiff.
How To Reduce The Pain Of Bunions
Dr. Verville wants all of her Frisco patients to be well-informed and equipped to help manage their bunion pain. If you are suffering from this foot ailment, these tips are a good place to start for your bunion treatment:
- Choose the right shoes. This is one of the biggest things you can do during your bunion treatment to provide pain relief. Having the right pair of shoes with a wide toe box allows room for all of your toes to move freely, avoiding undue pressure on your big toe. But just having a wide toe box isn’t all that goes into a well-fitting shoe. Dr. Verville recommends her Frisco patients visit a professional to have their shoes fitted properly. And don’t make the mistake of thinking that you’ll always wear the same size shoe. As we age, our feet tend to grow and expand, so you’ll need to be refitted every couple of years to be sure you’re wearing shoes that fit you best.
- Add some cushion to your shoes. If you have a painful bunion, consider adding some type of cushion to your shoe. Bunion pads are available at your corner drug store and come in many different materials. They are designed to decrease the pressure that is placed on your bunion while you’re wearing shoes. Toe spacers are another option for Frisco men and women who are looking for bunion treatment. As you would expect, toe spacers fit between the toes and are made out of foam or plastic.
- Use a topical ointment. During your visit with Dr. Verville, she will be able to include an effective topical ointment as part of your bunion treatment plan. These ointments are pain relieving and usually either contain menthol or other natural ingredients.
- Treat foot pain as needed. Bunion treatment should be handled as any other joint pain would be. Some things you can do to help relieve acute bunion pain would be:
- Take off your shoes and elevate your feet to relieve pressure and inflammation.
- Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 20-30 minutes at a time, several times a day.
- Give your feet a bath. Soak them in cold water if you are experiencing inflammation and if you have joint stiffness, warm water, or try wrapping them in a warm towel.
- Use Advil or Tylenol as directed for pain relief.
- Stretch your feet to keep your feet flexible and avoid stiffness.
Don’t Let Bunion Pain Ruin Your Day
If bunion pain has been getting the best of you, and you’re ready to be rid of the daily pain, call RNV Podiatry today to schedule an appointment at Dr. Verville’s Frisco office. During your appointment, she will fully examine your feet and develop a bunion treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
You can reach her office by calling (214) 385-8822.
