4 Tips to Alleviate Bunion Pain

The simple fact that we wear shoes most of the day plays havoc on our feet. One common problem are bunions. I’ve blogged about Bunions and Bunionettes before, but if you need a little reminder, here’s a few symptoms:

Symptoms of Bunions & Bunionettes:

• Bump appears at the base of the big (for bunion) or fifth toe (for bunionette)
• Pain, especially when wearing shoes that press or rub against the bump
• Big toe points toward the second toe
• Swelling
• Redness

If you have a bunion on your foot, try these 4 techniques to alleviate the pain, swelling, and redness.

1. Foot bath. Soak your foot in cold water instead of hot water. This will minimize irritation. If you want to be fancy about it, buy a home foot spa. Otherwise the bath or a bin large enough to fit your foot will work nicely. Add a bit of Epsom salt and soak away. 
2. Stretching. Just like the rest of your muscles, toes need to be stretched out too. Not only will the muscles feel better, so will the joints. 
3. Shoes. Shoes tend to be a big culprit when it comes to bunions. The rubbing from the inside of the shoe can cause a bunion to occur. Purchase shoes that fit. Measure your feet at the store and look for wider width shoes. If you love a pair of shoes but it’s tight around the bunion, ask a shoe repair store to stretch the shoe in that spot. 
4. Toe spacers. They can be found at your local store. Toe spacers will help to reduce pain and inflammation. Pain relief gels and creams can also be helpful in relieving pain.

Image by Mark Belokopytov. (2006). Measuring a foot. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/markb120/282343135/