Most people know of someone who has bunions, you may even have them yourself. If you do, then you will know how painful they can be. Walking becomes an effort and finding shoes that fit is simply a nightmare.
What are bunions?
Bunions are a deformity which causes the joint of the big toe to become out of alignment and turn the toe inwards. Bunions normally happen on big toes although they can also occur on the little toes. These are known as bunionettes.
Most of the time there is no extra bone growth but occasionally there will be some, which causes even more pain and discomfort.
The misaligned joint is the metatarsal phalangeal joint and it is this joint that changes the direction the toe points. You will notice that your big toe points towards the other toes instead of straight ahead. Bunions bring with them inflammation, redness and persistent pain.
Bunions will never go away, in fact over time they may get worse if you do not take care of them.
Early signs
This will often be a pain when you are walking, normally around the big or little toe area. You may see hardening skin or calluses in the area and inflammation is a very common indication of the start of a bunion.
Bunions cause a dull, constant pain which persists while you walk. You will then notice a pronounced bump at the side of your big toe. It may become difficult to move the big toe.
How to prevent bunions from getting worse
There are some things that you can do to prevent the bunion worsening.
- Don’t wearing tight shoes
- Avoid standing for great lengths of time
- Control your weight
- Exercise your feet
All these are fairly common-sense things that will ease the pain of the bunion. There are other things that you can do to stop the bunion getting any worse.
Use a toe spacer
This is a piece of foam which is placed between the toes to force them into the correct position. They can be a little uncomfortable to wear in shoes, but they force the toes back into the correct position.
Bunion correctors
These are normally of a strap design which is wound about the foot. The bunion corrector is held together by Velcro and normally fits inside shoes to keep the toes in the correct position.
Massage
Make sure that you employ a qualified massage therapist to do this. They will massage your feet and allow them to move back into the correct position. The best time for this is after walking or exercise and you may find that the massage therapist uses a cream or deep heat application to ease your feet.
Stretching exercises
A simple routine will allow your feet to become more flexible and your toes will return to their correct position. A good exercise to try is to place an elastic band around your big toes and turn them outwards. Hold them in this position for 60 seconds before returning to the start position. This can be done in repetitions of 10, up to 3 times per day.
Check your shoes
While better shoes may not reduce the bunions, a good pair of well-fitting shoes will inhibit the bunion’s growth. You should have room at the front for your toes to not be cramped together. Narrow shoes will only make bunions worse. High heels are also bad for bunions.
Cold compresses
Cold will reduce the inflammation of the bunion and make it less painful. You can either buy a specially made compress or use a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel.
To sum up
Bunions are very painful things to have to deal with, so it makes sense that if you can reduce the pain and stop them from getting any worse, you give it a try. You may find that you walk with less pain and your toes become straighter.
