Bunion Care

Swelling along the bottom of the big toe can result in redness, bone deformity, stiffness, and pain. Bunions are a progressive toe disorder that can be treated by wearing orthotic shoes and using support materials. A podiatrist can assess the severity of a bunion and recommend padding, taping, and shoe types that will slow the progression of the disorder.

Your Shoe Size And Preferred Style

An individual's foot can lengthen and widen as age progresses. Weight gain and standing or walking around a lot can place pressure on the tendons and ligaments that are within the feet. As a result, feet can become flatter or begin to spread out. Your podiatrist will assess the foot that is affected by a bunion to determine how severe the bony protrusion is.

If you wear shoes that lack arch or heel support or if you prefer walking around in designer footwear that is tapered or that contains a pointed toe, the big toe may be pushed up against the other toes for a considerate amount of time each day. The misalignment of your toes can make a bunion issue much more pronounced as time goes on. 

Orthotics, Cushioning, And Taping

Your feet should be able to breathe while wearing footwear and some shoes aren't designed with this necessity in mind. Orthotics that are constructed from a breathable fabric and that contain built-in padding can relieve pressure.

Insoles are cushioned pads that can sometimes be removed from shoes. The pads rest along the length of a shoe. They are often constructed of plastic or carbon fiber. Some shoe manufacturers glue cardboard or another thin material into footwear. This type of padding will not effectively reduce pain or provide the support that you may need.

The thickness of an insole may vary and in some cases, it may be advisable that you double up the insoles that you place in your shoes or that you purchase a product that contains an extra layer of cushioning.

Taping the toe that has a bunion on it may reduce pain. This process is commonly performed if an individual needs to be on their feet a lot and requires additional support and stability. The tape that your podiatrist recommends that you use will likely be a medical-grade product. Tape should be secured firmly around the affected area. Each day, the tape should be replaced with a new strip.