The bony deformation of a bunion at the base of your big toe isn’t just a problem because it looks unsightly. Bunions can flare up and become very painful, making it difficult for you to walk.
When you’re in pain due to a bunion, how can you relieve your symptoms? Expert podiatrist Dr. Leonard Greenwald supports new and existing patients in the San Jose, California, area who are dealing with bunions. Here is his advice for relieving pain from a severe bunion flare-up.
Why do bunions hurt? Bunions are a sign of joint damage in the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), often accompanied by inflammation, swelling, and tenderness. The bulge of a bunion occurs due to inflammation from the MTP joint shifting out of place.
Bunions may also cause related nerve damage, resulting in pain or numbness. Your pain may worsen when you wear shoes, especially shoes with tight toes or high heels that shift your weight forward on your feet.
The bulge of a bunion also creates new problems related to the fit of your footwear. Blisters, calluses, and corns contribute to your overall experience of foot pain and discomfort.
Your bunion pain may flare up from time to time, becoming more intense, distracting, and even temporarily disabling. Walking contributes to flare-ups and can be difficult when symptoms are severe.
When you’re hit with a flare-up, what should you do to manage your pain?
First, use over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and swelling. You can also try using an ice pack. Wrap the pack so that ice doesn’t come into direct contact with your skin and apply it for 20 minutes at a time.
If you need to walk during a bunion flare-up, cushioning pads and loose, comfortable shoes can help. Shoes with stiff soles don’t require your toe joint to flex and may stress your foot less during a flare-up. Changing your footwear long-term helps keep bunions from worsening.
Exercises that stretch the front of your feet and focus on strengthening the muscles that support your toes can help relieve foot pain associated with bunions. Stretch before and after activity or when symptoms attack.
Dr. Greenwald provides treatment options and therapeutic approaches that relieve severe bunion pain quickly and effectively. He can also advise you about how to prevent future attacks. In the long run, it’s better to seek professional care for bunions so you don’t have to keep managing painful symptoms.
When you need to tame a severe flare-up, pain injections often provide immediate and long-lasting relief. Dr. Greenwald can prescribe arthritis medication if that’s a part of the underlying cause of your issues.
Painful bunions often respond well to padding, taping, and orthotics to redistribute pressure away from the sensitive area. While silicone foot pads and orthotic inserts can be purchased over the counter, customized orthotics offer more benefits. For bunion relief, look for orthotics with a toe-spacer or other structure that straightens your big toe.
In severe cases, bunions may require surgical treatment. Dr. Greenwald surgically relieves pressure around the MTP joint and carefully realigns your affected foot bones, tendons, ligaments, and even nerves before closing the incision.
He typically recommends trying conservative treatment approaches before moving to surgery, but it may be your best bet for lasting relief.
You don’t have to live with severe foot pain related to bunions. The correct treatment relieves your symptoms and restores the shape of your foot. Contact Dr. Greenwald to schedule your appointment today. You can book online or over the phone.
