Effective Ways to Get Rid of Bunions

While some bunions go unnoticed, many others grow red, inflamed, and painful. They might be so painful that putting on shoes or walking becomes difficult. Bunions can be made worse by wearing shoes that don't fit properly or have high heels.

Although bunion surgery is required to entirely remove a bunion, there are things you can do to control the discomfort of your bunions and prevent them from worsening.

If bunions run in your family, your foot isn't properly aligned so the inside of it supports most of your weight or your foot has a fallen arch, you have an inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis, or you have a job that requires you to be on your feet a lot, you may be at an increased risk of developing them.

If any of these apply to you or you are on the verge of developing a bunion, there are steps you may do to help avoid or slow the progression of your bunion.

Choose right shoes 

Wearing good footwear is perhaps the most important thing you can do to keep your feet comfortable and prevent bunions. Shoes that are a touch loose on your foot, with a broad toe box, decent arch support, and heels that are less than 1 to 2 inches are the greatest for healthy feet.

It's fine to wear high heels once in a while if you enjoy them, but you shouldn't do it every day.

For shoes with some height, blocky heels, wedges, and platform shoes are better selections since they are more likely to distribute your weight more evenly over your foot or have a shallower angle that doesn't drive you onto the balls of your feet.

Shoes with laces are preferable to slip-ons because they keep your foot from going forward with each stride. The big toe joint is put under a lot of strain as a result of this action.

Look for shoes in the evening 

Now is the greatest time to go shoe shopping. Your feet swell during the day and are at their largest in the evening. If you buy shoes in the morning, they may be too tight in the evening.

As soon as you purchase your shoes, they should be comfy. They shouldn't need to be broken in before they're comfy.

Before you buy a pair of shoes, take a walk around the store to check sure they are comfortable and fit well. Your toes should not contact the front of the shoe and you should be able to wriggle them freely in correctly fitted shoes.

Make sure your foot has the right support and is aligned well 

Wear over-the-counter or prescription orthotics in your shoes if your foot isn't properly aligned or you have flat feet (fallen arches). This ensures that your foot is properly placed and supported.

A podiatrist (foot doctor) or someone from a home medical supply store can take your foot measurements and suggest the ideal shoe and insert for you.

You can also buy splints that keep your big toe straight while still allowing you to walk. Inserts and orthotics also assist in more evenly distributing your weight on your foot.

Maintain a healthy weight 

Every time you take a step, your body weight puts pressure on your feet. Your foot and big toe joint are under greater pressure than they need to be if you're overweight.

The more pressure applied to the toe joint, the more likely it is to develop a bunion or become irritated and painful.

Take care of your feet 

Make sure your feet are in good shape. When they're weary or hurting, soak them in warm water with Epsom salt. Use a moisturizer to keep them from becoming too dry. Allow them to be massaged or rubbed from time to time. After a long day, put them up and rest them.

The better you care for your feet, the less likely you are to develop bunions or other foot issues. Feet that are in good health are happy feet.