Has your life changed since you've had bunions? Following a few of these suggestions and visiting your Hampton and Williamsburg, VA, podiatrists, Drs. Sara Bouraee and Jon Houseworth, may relieve your pain and decrease your symptoms.
What to do about your bunion symptoms
A bunion develops when the joint at the bottom of your toe becomes misaligned. Once you have a bony bump at the base of the toe, wearing shoes, walking, standing and other everyday activities become more difficult.
As the misalignment worsens, so do your symptoms. Using devices and techniques that improve foot alignment may slow the progression of your condition and reduce pain. Options include:
- Night Splints: Night splints help stabilize and support your big toe joint while you sleep or rest.
- Taping: Strategically applying tape to your foot straightens your toe and reduces pressure on your bunion. Your Hampton and Williamsburg foot doctor can teach you how to tape your foot.
- Orthotics: Orthotics are custom shoe inserts designed for you by your podiatrist. The inserts cushion your foot, improve alignment and decrease pressure on your big toe joint.
The tissues in your joint may become inflamed if you have a bunion, causing pain, redness and swelling. Ice packs and over-the-counter pain medication can relieve pain and swelling. If your pain doesn't improve, your foot doctor may recommend a corticosteroid injection to ease inflammation and pain.
It's not easy to find a comfortable pair of shoes when you have bunions. Wearing shoes that aren't wide enough to accommodate your bunion or wearing tight shoes or high heels will only worsen your pain. In addition to choosing shoes that offer plenty of room in the toe area, applying adhesive pads to your feet can make wearing shoes more comfortable.
Has your big toe become stiff? Your foot doctor can suggest a few exercises that will keep your joint limber or give you a referral for physical therapy.
Although these measures will increase your comfort, they won't reverse your bunions. If your pain is severe or your bunions have begun to affect your ability to carry out basic tasks, you may benefit from bunion surgery. During the surgery, your podiatrist realigns your joint, eliminating the bunion, and may also remove inflamed tissue and bone.
Are you struggling with pain caused by bunions? Contact your podiatrists in Hampton and Williamsburg, VA, Drs. Bouraee and Houseworth. Schedule an appointment with the Williamsburg office by calling (757) 220-3311, or call the Hampton office at (757) 224-7605.