Bunions are painful bumps that form on the big toe as it pushes into your other toes, causing a variety of additional problems, including overlapping toes. The bunion itself isn’t always painful in the beginning, but in the more advanced stages, the discomfort may become more acute, and bunion surgery may be needed for complete relief.

4 excellent methods for treating painful bunions include the following:

• Wear properly fitted shoes—Choose wide width footwear, so the wider toe box gives your bunion room to move without rubbing on the insides of your shoes. It will help to prevent blisters and corns.
• Insulating pads and night braces—Various types of pads can help prevent rubbing and corn irritation. A specially made bunion brace can be worn while sleeping to pull the big toe away from the other toes.
• Toe exercises—Picking up small objects like marbles with your toes is an excellent exercise for increasing flexibility and strength. Towel scrunch exercises are another good one.
• Reduce swelling and pain—OTC medications like ibuprofen and Tylenol, along with applying ice packs, will reduce swelling and pain.

If you are experiencing painful bunions that are not responding to conservative treatments, surgery may be necessary to remove the bulge and realign the toe. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience, to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown, PA. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.