Bet On Bunions If You’re Not Careful

Bunions are bad if you allow them to be because there are actions you can take early on that can help to prevent them from occurring. These precautions that you can take are recommended so that you deal with them at the start before they become unnecessarily painful.

Bunions emerge as bumps on the edge of your big toe, which are produced by an irregularity of the foot’s bones. This can be caused by genetics or trauma to your toes. An atypical bump triggers the big toe to lean toward your adjacent toe and causes a massive amount of friction if left in that position. This also results in the big toe dropping its straight direction in favor of a bent position. Because of the angle formed, the bump becomes what we know as a bunion. If you wait too long to address this problem, the bunion could become a long-term deformity.

Preventative measures for bunions include the following:

• Use shoes that fit effortlessly and that have a lenient upper and a huge toe box.
• Place pads over the bunions so there is a buffer between them and your shoes.
• Do not stand on your feet for long periods of time.
• Take anti-inflammatories to reduce pain and swelling.
• Use toe spacers that can restore toes to their normal position.
• Orthotics can be very advantageous as they will assist with moving pressure away from your bunions and thereby prevent them from becoming worse.
• Surgical procedures can be helpful for positioning the toe back to its original location. It can also be used for removing the bunion when required.
• Use arch supports.

At Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, located in Waterbury 203-755-0489 & Newtown 203-270-6724, Connecticut, our podiatrist, Dr. Joel S. Segalman, DPM, can treat your bunions with the latest techniques and help to tailor a treatment plan for your feet that can reduce the chances of falling victim to the pain of bunions in the future. Please call our office at any of the two numbers listed above and get your feet back on track!