How Can I Deal with Bunions?
Most bunions, especially those caught early, can be managed with conservative treatment measures, although they can only be “cured” with a surgical procedure. Harvard Health Publications has outlined treatment options for managing bunions:
Wear Proper Footwear
One of the first things you can do to care for your bunion is to wear proper footwear, which will relieve pressure from the joint. This means that you’ll have to ditch your pointed-toe stilettos in favor of shoes that have a wide sole to support the foot, with enough room in the toe box (the part of the shoe that encases the toes at the front of the foot) to fit your foot without putting pressure on the bunion. Among the shoes to consider, try sandals, sneakers and shoes made of materials that will stretch to alleviate pressure on the bunion. If you have narrow shoes that are made of a material like leather, commercial or homemade shoe stretchers can reshape the shoe to add space to the toe box. For an easy DIY solution, you can fill Ziploc bags with water, fit them in the shoes and place in the freezer. As the water expands with freezing, it will stretch the toe box and allow your foot more room. Heels should be eliminated or kept to a minimum (with a maximum height of one inch).
Protect the Bunion
Even after you’ve committed to wearing the right kind of footwear, your bunion may still be sore. Protect a bunion by wearing pads made of moleskin, available at any drugstore. Your doctor may recommend wearing padded shoe inserts, called orthoses, that will correct your foot position as you walk. Wearing a splint can help keep your toe straight and ease pain and discomfort.