Your hands and feet are home to half the bones in your body. When you have a bunion, it can feel as if you have an extra bone protruding from your big toe. These painful occurrences cause a bony bump that can ultimately change the direction of your big toe joint. Bunion symptoms include a noticeable bump on the base of your large toe, trouble moving your toe and swelling or redness at your toe. Over time, a bunion can turn into a hammertoe that causes your foot to take on a claw-like appearance. While there are options to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with bunions, you can prevent the bunion from forming in the first place. By visiting Dr. Agricola, your Indianapolis foot and ankle surgeon, at Prestige Podiatry you can find relief from your bunion pain.

What Can I Do For Relief?

Early treatments are aimed at easing the pain of bunions, but they won’t reverse the deformity itself.  Treatment for a bunion in Indianapolis and surrounding areas will vary depending on its severity. The main goal for bunion treatment is to relieve the pressure and pain caused by irritations. The American Podiatric Medical Association recommends the following treatment options for reducing pressure and pain caused by bunions:

• Apply a non-medicated bunion pad.
• Wear comfortable shoes with a wide toe box and a low heel.
• Apply an ice pack over the bunion when it becomes swollen, red or painful.
• Tape up the foot to help keep the toe in position.
• Activity modifications, such as avoiding long periods of standing

Some common methods for reducing your bunion and the pressure involved include:

• The use of protective padding to eliminate the friction against shoes and help alleviate inflammation and skin problems.
• Removal of corns and calluses on the foot.
• Changing to carefully-fitted footwear designed to accommodate the bunion and not contribute toward its growth. 
• Orthotic devices to help stabilize the joint and place the foot in the correct position for walking and standing.
• Exercises to maintain joint mobility and prevent stiffness or arthritis.
• Splints for nighttime wear to help the toes and joint align properly.

When conservative treatments fail or the pain persists, a surgical procedure known as a bunionectomy may be recommended to remove the bunion, realign the toe joint and alleviate the pressure. Talk to Dr. Agricola, a foot and ankle surgeon in Indianapolis at the first sign of a bunion in order to discuss treatment options and prevent progression of the deformity. 

 

Patients in Indianapolis with bunions are encouraged to call Prestige Podiatry at (317) 881-0070 or visit the online requesting feature to schedule an appointment. 

 

Do you experience pain while walking? What types of shoes do you wear that might be causing your pain?