Bunion Relief – How to Get Rid of Bunion Pain
Medically known as Hallux Valgus, bunion is one of the most common deformities in the forefoot. This condition commonly develops in women as they often wear tight-fitting shoes. Because of the inflammation and swelling, bunion is often accompanied with severe discomfort and pain. Good thing there are ways to achieve bunion relief.
Tips for Bunion Relief:
Wear Soft and Wide-Fitting Shoes
Bunion relief can be achieved by wearing soft and wide-fitting shoes, where the upper portion of the shoes has the allowance to stretch. You should avoid high-heeled shoes as these can only make the condition worse. There are also special or custom-made shoes especially designed to relieve bunion-related pain.
Try Bunion Relief Exercises
These special exercises can keep your joints mobile and flexible. One example of these exercises is grabbing your foot and pulling on the big toe. There is another exercise you can try by grasping the foot and stretching the joints in different locations. While these exercises sound simple, it is still important to consult first with a healthcare provider.
Use Ice Packs, Splints, Shields and Pads
Ice packs can alleviate the pain, swelling, redness, and inflammation caused by bunions. It also helps to use shields, bunion gel pads, and splints to alleviate inflammation and pain. The shields and pads must be worn or directly applied over the affected area for protection against friction, abrasion, and pressure while wearing shoes. A bunion splint is usually worn or used at night to help correct the toe position. Some people wear it with shoes.
Try Bunion Home Remedies
Bunion home remedies provide temporary yet quick relief for the pain and discomfort caused by bunion. You can soak your feet in lukewarm water for 15 minutes as the heat from the water soothes the foot. Try adding some herbal sachets or Epsom salts to the water.
Bunion Surgery
This should only be a resort when the non-surgical bunion treatments mentioned above failed to work. Bunion surgery is done for dislocation correction and is performed by a licensed orthopedic surgeon. Bunion surgery involves the loosening of tissues that happen to be tight and shortening the long ones in order to repair the ligaments and tendons around the toe. This is done with the use of plates, wires and screws. However, it is important to know that bunion surgeries do not always guarantee complete recovery as corns and calluses often develop as complications of bunion surgery. Bunion relief through surgery will be expensive if your medical insurance doesn’t cover it.