The wrong kind of pressure on your toes and the front of your feet often results in a deformity, including the development of bunions. A bunion, or hallux valgus, bulges out in a bony lump at the base of your big toe.
A bunion can leave you suffering from frequent foot pain. And the wrong approach to dealing with a bunion can cause your condition to worsen.
What should you do to support your feet and avoid uncomfortable, intrusive, or even debilitating symptoms while you await surgery or other treatment or if you aren’t a candidate (or don’t want) surgery?
At Town Center Foot & Ankle of Kingwood, Texas, board-certified podiatrist Dr. Stephen G. Eichelsdorfer, aka “Dr. Ike,” advises new and existing patients with bunions.
He lets you know if you need surgery and provides expert tips and tricks to make living with a bunion a little easier. Here are five tips that make all the difference when it comes to staying comfortable with a bunion.
A foot with a bunion has a non-standard shape, and some footwear options pinch painfully. Overly tight and unsupportive shoes also contribute to bunions forming and worsening.
Look for shoes with a broad, roomy toe box that won’t pinch or cause compression. Styles with lots of adjustability features are likely to be easiest to fit to your foot shape. Soft materials are less likely to result in foot pain or uncomfortable pressure.
Dr. Ike offers one-of-a-kind, personalized custom orthotic inserts that shape your footwear around painful or distorted parts of your feet.
If your bunion causes foot pain, or you notice reddened, roughened skin from repeated rubbing, talk to Dr. Ike about your options for orthotics. Orthotics work with many shoe styles and can be discreet and stylish.
The right exercises help to strengthen your feet muscles, taking pressure off the joint at the base of your big toe where your bunion bulges. Stretches and exercises can relieve pain symptoms and even stop the progression of your condition.
Talk to Dr. Ike about big toe stretches, toe curls, and arch-strengthening foot exercises.
When bunions are painful or inflamed, respond with ice therapy, also known as cryotherapy. Cover an ice pack with a cloth, and apply it to the painful area for 15-20 minutes at a time, taking breaks to prevent skin irritation.
You can further relieve pressure around your bunion with specialized bunion pads or moleskins. Padding reduces friction, blistering, and irritation around your bunion.
For personalized advice on living a more comfortable life with a bunion, contact Dr. Ike at Town Center Foot & Ankle in Kingwood, Texas, today. Request your appointment online or over the phone now.
