How Can You Get Rid of A Bunion?

When the big toe pushes the second toe, it causes a bump called a bunion in your feet. The skin at this bumpy joint gets sore and red. A bunion is a deformity of the MTP or metatarsophalangeal joint in the big toe. Usually, it is a common foot ailment that may run in families. If you experience symptoms like a knobby protrusion at the base of your big toe, consult the best podiatrists in Houston for proper treatment.

What Causes A Bunion?

There are many elements apart from heredity that causes a bunion. Sometimes, arthritis or lack of strength in the foot muscles can lead to this ailment. Wearing narrow, tight, and high-heeled footwear also causes a bunion. In fact, it is the reason that this disease is more common in women than in men.

However, ill-fitting running shoes having a tapered toe box can be blamed for causing a bunion in runners. Other significant causes of this disease are spending a long time on hard surfaces, being overweight, exerting repetitive stress on the feet and also standing for a long time.

The Best Treatment for A Bunion

Depending on your pain, there are treatment plans that can help you cure a bunion. If you have slight inflammation or soreness in your big toe, applying ice can suffice. You should also wear comfortable shoes or use shoe padding to relieve the pain. But, if the pain persists, consult the podiatrists in Houston for surgical treatment.

Early Treatment For A Bunion

The first step in bunion treatment is padding the knobby protrusion. Shoes must be large enough and stretchable to accommodate the bunion. In the early treatment stage, the podiatrist may also recommend medications for eliminating inflammation. Other initial treatment options are whirlpool baths, physical therapy, and ultrasound.

Surgical Management For A Bunion

Many people use cortisone injections over the years to relieve pain from the bunion. Anti-inflammatory medicines and icing also may fail to deliver the expected outcomes. If you have waited too long to get rid of a bunion, surgical intervention becomes necessary.

Bunion removal surgery repairs the underlying deformity in your big toe. It corrects the angle of the bone and minimizes the chances of a bunion returning in your feet. Shaving off the protrusion at the base of your big toe is not enough. There are different surgical methods that can be used to treat this ailment permanently.

The right treatment depends on your individual conditions. You can wear a protective cast or boot for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Full recovery from this condition takes nearly 6 months. If you prefer physical therapy after surgery, the results will be long-term and effective.

Always put your trust in a reliable and experienced podiatrist for permanent relief from a bunion.