Treatment Options for Bunions

Find out how to get your bunion pain under control on your own and when you should see a podiatrist.

When it comes to treating a bunion, the goal is to stop the throbbing, aching pain that often comes with this foot deformity. Of course, we also want to slow the progression of this condition so that the bunion doesn’t get larger. You’ll be happy to hear that getting bunion pain and swelling under control really isn’t that challenging. With help from our California, MD, podiatrists Dr. Larry Hotchkiss, Dr. Justin Pointer, and Dr. Joseph DiStefano we can provide you with simple home remedies and strategies to prevent bunion pain from taking over your life.

At-Home Care

If you catch the bunion early enough there are strategies that you can implement at home to ease pain and swelling and to slow the progression of the bunion. These treatment options include,

• Icing the bunion for 15-20 minutes, 2-3 times a day to reduce swelling and pain
• Taking an anti-inflammatory medication
• Applying a moleskin pad to the bunion before wearing shoes to prevent friction and the development of a callus
• Soaking feet in warm water (apply Epsom salts, if you like!)
• Maintaining a healthy weight and losing excess weight to take the pressure off your feet
• Wearing shoes that have an ample toe box that allows you to wiggle your toes freely. Also, look for shoes that provide support and cushioning for the whole foot.

If you’ve tried all at-home treatment options but you aren’t getting the relief you need, then it’s time to talk with our California, MD, foot doctors about more advanced treatment options that can help ease symptoms and help you return to your favorite activities. Some of these treatment options include,

• Having our podiatrists create custom shoe inserts (also known as orthotics) to place inside your shoes
• Wearing a splint at night to realign the deformed joint to ease pain in the morning
• Steroid injections to treat severe inflammation and pain

When Surgery is Necessary

If you have tried all the non-surgical treatment options above, then it may be time to talk with our podiatry team about whether your bunion may benefit from surgery. Surgery is often not necessary if you work together with your podiatrist; however, you may benefit from bunion surgery if,

• You have a very large bunion
• Your bunion causes severe pain that affects your daily activities
• You have a decreased quality of life because of your bunion
• You are dealing with severe swelling of the bunion

If bunion pain is telling you how to live your life, our podiatrists have practices in Waldorf, Clinton, and California, MD, to help you get your pain under control. Call Southern Maryland Foot & Ankle today at (301) 843-9581, (301) 868-3899, or (301) 690-6044 to schedule an evaluation.