More than half of working Canadians will experience foot health problems at one time or another in their lives, and this includes bunions. Whether it’s dealing with red, tender skin, numbness, or tingling, bunions can be very uncomfortable or even quite painful. With so many bunion treatment options, it can be difficult to what’s the best way to treat your bunions. Here’s a guide of bunions to help you.
What are Bunions?
Also known as Hallux Valgus, bunions are sore and bony lumps that form gradually on the inside of the feet at the big toe joint. Pressure on your big toe joint causes it to lean toward the second toe, resulting in a bunion bump over time. As the lump grows, you may start experiencing pain when you wear shoes or walk.
Effective Bunion Treatment Options
When you visit a foot doctor, they conduct an x-ray to determine whether you have bunions. With the results, they can recommend treatment options including:
Conservative Treatment
If you don’t want to undergo surgery for your bunions, there are some non-surgical treatments to help you relieve the pain and pressure caused by bunions.
Footwear Changes
Switch to shoes that are wide and roomy to take pressure off your toes. You can use a stretching device to widen shoes you already own.
Orthotic Devices
Custom-made shoe inserts can help distribute pressure evenly when you move your feet, preventing your bunions from getting worse. You can also place a spacer between the big toe and second toe to help alleviate the discomfort.
Physical Therapy
Some physical therapy exercises can help improve muscle strength around the bunion, improving alignment. Massage can also break up soft-tissue adhesions to relieve inflammation and pain.
Bunion Padding
Bunion pads can act as a barrier between your foot and shoe, helping ease pain. They also prevent your bunions from rubbing against the inside of the shoes.
Medication
When you hire a podiatrist for bunion treatment, they may recommend over-the-counter or prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Some of these medications include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, and more. Your foot doctor will advise you on the correct dose, the length of treatment, and the side effects of the medication, if any.
If necessary, cortisone injections may help reduce the pain of the bunion.
Surgical Treatment
If nonsurgical treatments don’t help and walking becomes more painful, your foot doctor may recommend surgery. Here are some surgical procedures for bunions:
• Repair of the tendons and ligaments: It involves shortening any weak joint tissues and lengthening your toe
• Osteotomy: Your doctor will make small cuts in the bones and fixes this new break with pins, screws, or plates to realign the joint
• Arthrodesis: For severe bunions, the surgeon will insert screws, wires, or plates to hold your joints together during healing
• Exostectomy: In this procedure, your doctor will remove the bump from your toe joint• Resection arthroplasty: During this procedure, your doctor will remove the damaged portion of the toe joint, increasing the space between the toe bones
Surgical treatment is usually necessary for severe foot issues only.
Bunions Calgary: Hire a Podiatrist Near You
Got bunions? Look no further than Heritage Family Foot Clinic with Dr. Tedman Donovan. We offer specialized bunion treatment options that’ll make walking more comfortable. Contact us today so we can help you find effective solutions for your foot problems.
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