Total Treatment to Relieve the Pain From Bunions
A bunion is a bump that forms on the bone at the base of your big toe. Specifically, bunions form on the inner edge of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, where the big toe meets the foot. A bunion can make your big toe turn inward and force the joint to stick out. Over time, a bunion can make it painful to wear shoes and walk.
Bunions don’t get better or go away on their own. If you have a bunion, the podiatry team at St. Luke’s is here for you. We offer complete care for patients with bunions, from at-home treatments, orthotics and therapy to surgery.
How We Diagnose Bunions
Your podiatrist will diagnose your bunion with a physical exam. After examining your foot and the bunion, you’ll likely need an X-ray. This can tell your doctor how severe the bunion is, which helps determine the best option for treating it.
Our Bunion Treatment Options
At-Home Treatment
Unfortunately, bunions won’t go away on their own. However, there are several steps you can take to relieve bunion pain, including:
- Add orthotics, shoe inserts or spacers: These devices can help support your feet and keep your big toe straight
- Apply ice to your toe: This can reduce pain and swelling. Be sure to wrap ice and ice packs in a thin towel to avoid direct contact with your skin.
- Change the shoes you wear: Choose shoes with wide, deep toe boxes to take the pressure off your toe. You may be able use special stretching devices to widen shoes you already have.
- Pad your toe: Bunion pads or cushions available over the counter at your local pharmacy can help. Your doctor may suggest that you use medical tape to hold your toes and the pad in the right position.
- Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Medications like ibuprofen, naproxen and others can reduce pain and swelling. Your doctor may recommend pills, creams or ointments.
- Wear a toe splint: This can help keep your toe straight when you’re not wearing shoes
Additional Treatments
If at-home treatments aren’t enough to relieve your bunion pain, your podiatrist may recommend additional options, such as:
- Injections: Medications called corticosteroids can reduce pain and swelling from bunions.
- Physical therapy: Our therapists can provide stretches or exercises for you to strengthen your foot and help better align your toes.
- Surgery: If your bunion is interfering with your daily activities or causing extreme pain, your podiatrist may recommend surgery. Your surgery may involve removing swollen tissue from around the joint, straightening your big toe, realigning bones in your foot to correct the angle of your toe or changing how the bones in your joint come together.
Bunion Symptoms
Bunions have several key warning signs. If you notice any of these symptoms, bring them up with your primary care provider or podiatrist:
- A bump on the outside of the base of your big toe
- Any redness or discoloration in the big toe
- Corns or calluses on your big or second toe (where the two toes rub against each other)
- Not being able to move or bend the toe
- Pain, stiffness or swelling in your big toe, or pain that gets worse when you wear shoes
Risk Factors for Bunions
Several factors can increase your risk for developing a bunion. These include:
- A family history of developing bunions
- A personal history of foot injuries
- Other health conditions that cause swelling, such as rheumatoid arthritis
- Wearing narrow or pointy shoes that crowd the toes
- Working long hours on your feet or standing for long periods of time