How to Relieve a Bunion
Bunions can be extremely painful and make it difficult to walk or stand. Your doctor may recommend surgery, but you can use these tips to find relief while waiting for surgery. These also help you reduce pain and swelling for mild cases or if you want to avoid surgery.
A bunion is swelling of the tissue or bone around the joint where the big toe connects to the foot. Sometimes this causes the big toes to turn in towards the other toes, and it can be very painful and swollen. It is usually caused by a swollen bursal sac on the joint. Bunions make it painful to walk and you may have trouble wearing your shoes. Bunions are hereditary, so if your parents or siblings have bunions, you might too.
- Wear shoes with plenty of room in the toe area. Avoid narrow-toed shoes or shoes that come to a point at the end. Tight shoes may also aggravate a bunion, so you may need to buy wide width shoes or a size bigger than you normally wear while your bunion heals.
- Avoid wearing shoes as much as possible. Walk barefoot when at home and take your shoes off whenever possible.
- Use a shoe insert made for bunions. Custom made inserts provide the best relief, but they can be expensive. Drugstores will carry more affordable brands that will offer some relief.
- Elevate your foot as much as possible to reduce swelling.
- Freeze water in disposable cups. Peel the cup to expose an inch of ice. Massage the area for at least five minutes to relieve pain and reduce swelling. An ice massage will increase circulation to the area which reduces swelling more than using ice alone.