A bunion arises when the normal pressure exerted on the joints and tendons of your feet is disrupted, creating an imbalance in the joint of your big toe, explains the Mayo Clinic. The bulge on the base of your big toe can be the source of intermittent or persistent pain, depending on the severity of your bunion. Bunions can get worse over time and may require surgical treatment, cautions the Mayo Clinic. See a doctor as soon as possible so you don't develop complications. If bunions barely bug you, however, you may find sufficient relief with home remedies and preventive techniques.
Step 1
Pitch pinching shoes. You may have to be brutal in your assessment of the culprits that caused your bunions. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, describes bunion-causing shoes as those that fit too tightly. Look for high-heeled pumps and boots with sharp, pointy toes that give you no wiggle room. Any shoe that you have to stuff your feet into is highly suspect. Bunion-safe shoes have wide, boxy toe areas; wide insteps; and heels no more than 2 1/4 inches in height.
Step 2
Make yourself comfortable. After a long day on your feet, integrative physician Andrew Weil, M.D., advises soaking aching feet in warm water. The National Institutes of Health suggests cutting a hole in a pair of old, comfortable shoes and wearing them around the house. Alternately, you can wear sandals during warmer weather.
Step 3
Ease the pain. When bunions become painful, Dr. Weil and the Mayo Clinic advise using an ice pack or cold compress two or three times a day to reduce swelling. An over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin or ibuprofen may be helpful, says Dr. Weil. For a more holistic approach, look into anti-inflammatory herbal supplements like turmeric or ginger.
Step 4
Give yourself extra cushion. Apply nonmedicated bunion pads–small donut-shaped adhesives stocked at most drugstores–to your toes to prevent the toe from coming into contact with your shoes, advises the Mayo Clinic. You may also want to have your shoes professionally stretched to give your foot more room to move around.
Step 5
See a doctor if bunions get worse. Ill-fitting footwear can cause a host of other problems, says the AAOS, including corns, calluses and hammertoe. If you've used all preventive strategies and exhausted home remedies and you still cannot wear roomy footwear without experiencing pain, you may require more thorough treatment that only a medical professional can provide.
Tips and Warnings
- More women than men get bunions, says the National Institutes of Health, although some people are genetically predisposed for bunions due to the shape of their feet.
Things You'll Need
- Ice pack or cold compress
- Nonprescription pain reliever
- Bunion pads
