4 Very Simple Ways to Deal with Bunion Pain
Posted on: 16 March 2016
Bunions, or hallux valgus as they're medically known, occur when bone or tissue around the joint at the base of your big toe moves out of place. Whether your bunions are a due to genetics or bad shoes, you're likely to be unhappy with the effect they have on your life. The only real cure is surgery, but there are things you can do to lessen the pain while you're waiting for a foot clinic appointment.
Water and Salts Solution
Soaking your feet in a cool water and salts solution is a simple way to reduce the pain of bunions. You don't need a fancy foot spa -- a washing up bowl will do. Place a few tablespoons of bath salts or Epsom salts into the bowl and top it up with enough cool water to cover your feet and ankles. Soak your feet in the solution for up to 15 minutes.
Topical Painkiller
Applying a topical analgesic can provide good pain relief for short periods of time. They usually contain cooling agents that help with the irritation. When you get home, apply the cream and put your feet up for a while.
Get Measured for New Shoes
People assume they know what size their feet are by adulthood, so they don't need to have them measured. While your feet do not keep growing, your shoe size can change. This usually happens as a result of changes in the bones in your feet. It is often the width of your foot that will change, so getting your feet measured before investing in new shoes is a good idea. Your bunions will add width to your foot, and cramping it into a narrow shoe will add to the problems your bunions cause you. Shoes come in varying widths these days, and in a lot of styles. If you really love a pair of leather shoes you already own, consider having them stretched to accommodate your bunions.
Stretching Your Toes
When a part of your body is sore, it's easy to avoid touching the area for fear of making it worse. However, stretching exercises can be a useful way to address sore joints and toes and may help with your bunions. Make sure you're sitting in a comfortable position and use your hands to take your toe through a series of stretching exercises. You want to move your toe through a range of comfortable stretching motions. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds, repeating two or three times daily. You can also try stretches that move your big toe away from the toe next to it, holding these for the same time length with the same repetitions. Discontinue any stretch that causes excess pain.
Contact a foot clinic like Morrison Podiatry Centre for more information.
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