Perfecting My Foot

Use These Strategies To Reduce Your Bunion Pain

A bunion on the outside of your foot might make you feel a bit embarrassed of your foot's appearance when you wear sandals or go to the beach, but the bigger concern with this common condition is that every step you take can be painful. When you begin to notice the symptoms of a bunion, which can include an obvious bump on the outside of your first toe, as well as some constant or occasional pain in the area, it's smart to schedule an appointment at your local podiatry clinic as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can use a variety of simple strategies to help alleviate some of the pain that you're experiencing. Here are some such ideas.

Buy A Bunion Pad

If you visit your local pharmacy and browse the foot-care aisle, you'll find several products that can help you manage your bunion pain. Central among these is the bunion toe pad, which is typically a cushioned adhesive pad that you can either directly stick onto your toe or wrap around your toe over the affected area according to the manufacturer's instructions. Either way, the gel-like material inside the pad will provide cushioning around the sore area so that each step you take doesn't create a jolt of pain.

Opt For Comfortable Footwear

Cramming your already-sore feet into tight-fitting shoes? It's time to stop. Bunion pain can dramatically worsen due to footwear that pinches the painful area; central among the culprits can be high-heeled shoes with pointed toes, as your feet are crammed into the shoes tightly. Look through your selection of footwear and try shoes that you can wear without pain. Your podiatrist will likely provide you with specific recommendations at your appointment, as well as look at some of your shoes and indicate whether they're acceptable or not. In the meantime, you can remember the rule that if it's causing you pain, it's best to leave in the closet.

Apply Ice

An ice pack applied to the sore area can provide some relief, so many people find that using this form of self-care at the end of the day is a healthy habit to adopt. The ice can reduce the swelling, but you need to be sure to avoid overexposing the bunion to too much cold. Try to keep the application of the ice to no more than 20 minutes at a time, and make sure you give the area enough time to completely warm up before you reapply the ice. Too much cold in the area can severely irritate your skin. To find out more, speak with someone like Robert A. Raley, DPM.


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