Treating Your Bunions

Are your bunions making you uncomfortable or interfering with your life? Your New Braunfels, TX, podiatrists, Dr. Brandon James and Dr. Sarah James of Foot & Ankle Surgery of New Braunfels, offer treatments that will help you manage your bunion symptoms.

Reducing bunion pain at home

A few home remedies and lifestyle changes can be very helpful in treating painful bunions. If you have bunions, you may want to try:

• Taking Advantage of Pain-Relieving Techniques: Ice and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, reduce pain and swelling caused by bunions.
• Using Adhesive Pads: Applying adhesive pads to your bunions (and the tops of your toes if they overlap) reduces friction and tension and can help you avoid corns and calluses in addition to pain.
• Changing Your Shoes: As you probably know from experience, tight shoes and high heels can make your bunions feel worse and may even speed the progression of your condition. Choose wide shoes that offer plenty of room for your bunions. When you shop for shoes, look for styles that have heels no higher than 2".

How your podiatrist can ease your pain

If your bunions still hurt or are getting worse, it's time to get in touch with your podiatrists at the New Braunfels, TX, podiatry office. He or she can recommend a few things that can help, including:

• Corticosteroid Injections: The injections decrease pain and inflammation, which can be a factor in stiffness.
• Night Splints: Worn while you sleep, the splints help keep your big toe joints properly aligned.
• Orthotics: Your foot doctor can also provide custom inserts called orthotics that keep your feet aligned when you wear shoes.
• Bunion Surgery: Unfortunately, it's impossible to "cure" bunions. Although smart shoe choices and night splints can slow the progression of bunions, these tactics can't reverse them. If your bunions are very painful or affect your usual activities, you may need surgery to remove the bony bump. During bunion surgery, your podiatrist straightens your big toe joint and removes portions of bone and inflamed tissue.

Are you struggling with bunion pain? Call your podiatrists, Dr. Brandon James and Dr. Sarah James of Foot & Ankle Surgery of New Braunfels, at (830) 387-4427 to schedule your appointment.