Has your life changed since you developed bunions? When walking and standing are painful, it may be difficult to participate in hobbies, sports and activities you once enjoyed. Fortunately, our Houston foot and ankle doctors at Foot & Ankle Institute Dr. Asia Lo, Dr. Samuel Mendicino, Dr. Manish Patel, and Dr. Dhvanil Thakor offer bunion treatments that can ease your pain and improve your mobility.
Addressing your symptoms can slow the progression of your bunion
Bunions tend to worsen over time, particularly if you don't take a few steps to slow their progression. You've probably noticed that pressure from tight shoes or high heels worsens your pain. If you haven't already made a few footwear changes, now is the time to start. Shop for shoes that offer plenty of room in the toe box and cushion your foot.
No matter what type of shoes you wear, you're bound to experience a little irritation if you have a bunion. Applying adhesive pads to the bunions can help reduce friction and pressure due to footwear.
When new shoes and over-the-counter pain relievers aren't helpful, it's a good idea to schedule an appointment with our Houston foot and ankle doctors. They can offer several helpful treatment options including:
- Night Splints: Wearing splints while you sleep improves the alignment of the bones in your foot and reduces bunion symptoms.
- Orthotics: Orthotics keep your feet properly aligned when you wear shoes and also cushion your bunions. The shoe inserts are custom-designed for you by your podiatrist.
- Physical Therapy: Stiffness in your big toe may make walking even more difficult. Physical therapy exercises are designed to increase mobility in your joints and strengthen the muscles that support your big toe.
- Corticosteroid Injections: Injections can help decrease pain and reduce inflammation in your joints.
- Surgery: Surgery is the only treatment option that can eliminate bunions. Your foot and ankle doctors may recommend bunion surgery if you have severe pain, trouble walking, or your bunion has begun to affect your lifestyle or daily activities. Surgery may involve removing your bony bump, realigning your joint, and removing excess tissue or damaged bone.
Are you tired of living with bunion pain? Call our foot and ankle doctors at Foot & Ankle Institute at (281) 531-4100 to schedule an appointment.