Bunions can be an unwanted addition to your feet when walking. They can cause pain and discomfort that hinders your active lifestyle. Many people go for years without getting them treated, and deal with symptoms such as pain, soreness, inflammation, redness, a burning sensation, and possible numbness. Bunions are especially problematic when you are wearing tight shoes or walking for long periods of time. If you want to learn how to get rid of bunions, know that there are treatment and prevention options available that can bring relief and get you back to a more active lifestyle.
What are bunions?
A bunion is a bone deformity on the foot that forms when the toe moves out of place. It happens when the talotarsal joint (the bones in the back of your foot) is dislocated forward and to the side, which causes extra motion on the foot and enlargement of the big toe joint, creating a big bump that causes painful pressure.Why do I have bunions?
Bunions are sometimes hereditary, and can be caused by wearing tight shoes or by having misaligned feet. They are also sometimes caused by arthritis. Whether you were born with a structural defect that caused your bunions, they are related to a medical condition, or you first noticed them when wearing tight shoes, they typically get worse with time (like most foot problems) if not treated.How can I treat my bunions?
- Shoes – If you catch your bunions early enough, your doctor may prescribe shoes with specialty insoles. This is not a real treatment as the underlying cause is still present.
- Padding – Placing pads around the bunion area to protect against friction. This is a temporary measure and the bunion will continue to progressively get worse.
- Pain Medication – Anti-inflammation medications and other over-the-counter pain medications are sometimes recommended to manage the pain from bunions. Meanwhile, the bunion will continue to get worse.
- Heat – Warm foot baths are sometimes recommended to help manage the symptoms.
- Ice – Some people find relief by using ice packs to reduce inflammation.
- Surgery – When conservative methods to treat bunions fail, surgery is sometimes recommended. Unfortunately, there is an unusually high recurrence rate of bunions. That’s because the underlying etiology is still present.
- HyProCure® Minimally Invasive Surgery – A less invasive outpatient procedure where a titanium stent is placed into the naturally occurring space between the ankle bone and heel bone. This decreases the forces that lead to a bunion deformity. There have been many cases where this option has actually reversed the bunion.
