|
A bunion is swelling of the joint at the base of the big toe. As time goes on with a bunion they tend eventually bend your toe toward and sometimes overlap the other toes. Wearing shoes too short or narrow usually irritates the condition. Bunions are in fact genetic but to prevent further damage wearing low healed shoes that are not too tight or narrow are advisable.
Once you have a bunion there is no way to get rid of it as far as home treatment is concerned. But here are some things you can do to keep it from getting worse.
*Cushion the bunion with moleskin or donut-shaped pads to prevent rubbing or irritation.
*Cut out the area over the bunion from an old pair of tennis shoes that you wear around the house or wear
a pair of sandals to relieve the pain.
*Aspirin or Ibuprofen, or acetaminophen can relieve the pain. Using ice or cold packs may help also.
You should seek a health professional if the pain is severe or interferes with daily activities, or if the big toe overlaps the second toe and the pain does not subside after 2-3 weeks with home treatment
Be concerned if you have diabetes, poor circulation, or peripheral vascular disease. Irritated skin over the bunion can become easily infected and as cause for concern.
There is a surgical procedure that can be done to realign the big toe if none of the above treatments work. From personal experience this can be very painful but well worth getting it fixed, especially if you are very active in sports that require running, jumping etc…
Healthy feet are so important and most of us take them for granted. So wear good shoes and take care of them properly because they are the only feet you have.
| 
