Do you have a bony lump at the base of your big toe? It could be a bunion. About one in three people over the age of 65 live with bunions, and they can affect anyone in almost any age group.
Bunions form when your big toe is forced into your other toes when you wear shoes. Over time, the pressure makes the joint grow larger, often causing pain and permanent changes in the structure of your foot.
Bunions can trigger pain, swelling, and other foot problems — and they don’t go away on their own. Luckily, there are lots of ways to treat bunions, and the team at The Foot & Ankle Specialists is here to help you find the right treatment for your feet.
Lisa Burson, DPM, Joe Aoun, DPM, and our podiatric team specialize in comprehensive bunion care. From expert diagnosis to personalized treatment, we help people find relief from bunion pain.
You have a variety of treatment options if you have mild-to-moderate bunions. Depending on the severity of your condition, we may recommend...
Bunion pain typically gets worse if you’re on your feet for long periods of time, but resting and applying ice can calm inflammation. Consider icing your bunions for 5-10 minutes at a time, up to several times a day to reduce pain and inflammation.
High heels and shoes with narrow or pointed toe boxes are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to bunions. These shoes force toes together, and choosing shoes that give your toes room can prevent bunions from getting worse.
Look for shoes with wide toe boxes, so your toes have plenty of room to spread when you walk. Pick shoes with plenty of cushioning to help manage bunion pain in toes and feet.
Since bunion symptoms often get worse when you’re wearing shoes, cushioning sore joints can be an effective treatment for bunions. Dr. Lisa Burson and Dr. Joe Aoun can give you tips on properly cushioning and padding your bunions, and we may also recommend bracing, splinting, and taping. These methods can take stress off your big toe joint to reduce bunion discomfort.
Orthotics are shoe inserts designed to help your feet function and move correctly. At The Foot & Ankle Specialists, we offer custom orthotics, including Betterform Orthotics, for patients suffering from various foot conditions.
Orthotics can effectively relieve bunion symptoms because the specialized padding takes stress and pressure off inflamed joints. If you start bunion treatment early, orthotics can be highly effective in preventing further foot damage.
If you have significant bunion pain, talk to Dr. Lisa Burson and Dr. Joe Aoun about anti-inflammatory medication to treat bunion symptoms. Oral anti-inflammatories can help minimize pain related to joint inflammation. In some cases, corticosteroid injections may be a good treatment option to tackle inflammation and pain.
Our team takes a conservative approach to bunion treatment. We recommend nonsurgical treatment options whenever possible, but sometimes, those conservative options aren’t enough.
If your condition isn’t improving with nonsurgical care, it could be time to consider bunion surgery. Conservative treatments focus on reducing symptoms and preventing bunions from getting worse, but surgery is a permanent solution that removes the bunion completely.
During bunion surgery, Dr. Lisa Burson and Dr. Joe Aoun remove the bunion and reshape the bone structure in your toe and foot. Full recovery may take between four to six months, but it can be a good solution for people with severe, painful bunions.
Bunions don’t go away on their own, so don’t ignore your symptoms. Contact The Foot & Ankle Specialists to schedule your first appointment today.
