Treating Your Bunions

A hallux valgus, commonly called a bunion, is a bump found on the big toe’s base-side portion. While usually painless, bunions are more than just bumps. This visible bump reflects significant changes in the foot’s bony framework. When you have a bunion, your big toe will gradually lean toward the adjacent toe instead of pointing straight. In turn, this causes misalignment of the bones, resulting in a bunion.

Bunion symptoms typically manifest during the condition’s later stages, while some individuals won’t experience any symptoms. That being said, if your bunion is painful and affecting your daily life, visit your podiatrist, Dr. Jesse Anderson, here at AAL Podiatry Associates in our Norfolk, VA, or Suffolk, VA, office, for proper treatment.

Nonsurgical Bunion Treatments

Bunion treatments are essentially aimed at alleviating pain and discomfort since it’s impossible to reverse the deformity. These include the following:

  • Activity adjustments: Refrain from performing activities that aggravate your symptoms.
  • Wearing supportive footwear. Opt for shoes with ample space for the toes and avoid those that have pointed toe boxes of high heels, as these could exacerbate your condition.
  • NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help minimize inflammation and pain.
  • Cold therapy. Applying a cold compress or ice pack a couple of times daily to your bunion can help relieve pain and swelling.
  • Orthotic devices. Ask your podiatrist in our Norfolk, VA, or Suffolk, VA, office about orthotic devices that be customized to your specific circumstances.
  • Corticosteroid injections. While not common, corticosteroid injections are sometimes recommended by doctors if the bunion comes with an inflamed bursa.

Surgery for Bunions

When nonsurgical bunion treatments fail to ease your symptoms and/or your symptoms start to negatively impact your daily activities, your podiatrist might suggest surgical intervention. There are a couple of surgeries used for treating bunions, and your podiatrist will take into account your age, the severity of your bunion, and other vital factors to determine the most suitable surgical procedure for you.

Essentially, the goal of surgical treatments is to get rid of the bony bump, eliminate pain, fix changes in soft tissue, as well as correct any changes in the structure of the affected foot.

Need Help With Your Bunion? Reach Out to Us

Book a consultation with your podiatrist, Dr. Jesse Anderson of AAL Podiatry Associates by calling our Norfolk, VA, office at (757) 625-2962 or Suffolk, VA, office at (757) 539-2098.

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