What Is A Bunion And How To Shrink It Naturally

Bunions are bony, painful protrusions that form on the big toe. They’re fairly common and often eventually become painful, so if you think you are developing a bunion, it’s a good idea to be evaluated by a foot doctor.

A doctor’s evaluation also is important because bunion pain can progress over time, especially if you’re not taking steps to prevent the bunion from worsening.

How can you get rid of bunion pain?

You must be asking yourself: How can I shrink a bunion naturally? Or get rid of the pain? Whether you have a bunion on one foot or bunions on both feet, they can be painful. It’s pain that can worsen over time, but here are 5 steps you can take to lessen it:

Choose the right shoes

Low-heeled shoes with a wide toe box reduce pressure on your big toe and provide plenty of room.

Add some cushion

Wearing a bunion pad can keep your big toe from rubbing against your shoe.

Stretch

Foot exercises and toe stretches can help keep the joint between your big toe and the rest of your foot flexible.

Apply ice

Try icing your big toe for 10 minutes after exercising, walking or when you feel pain.

Try a pain reliever

Over-the-counter options, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help relieve occasional bunion pain. Just be sure they don’t interfere with your other medications and that you take them only as directed.

Are there other bunion treatment options?

If at-home remedies don’t relieve your bunion pain, let your doctor know. There are other bunion treatment options we can turn to reduce inflammation and achieve better pain relief.

For instance, you may benefit from specialized shoe inserts, called orthotics, or a splint worn at night — both of which work to help better align and support your foot. And, while it can be more time-intensive, physical therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation.

These bunion treatments, as well as the home remedies above, might help slow the worsening of bunions, but, unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent bunions completely.

If nonsurgical bunion treatment options aren’t working, it might be a sign that it’s time to consider bunion surgery, also called a bunionectomy.

When should you consider bunion surgery?

Bunions are initially treated using conservative therapies. But if bunion pain persists despite these treatments and progresses to become very severe or impair mobility, your doctor may recommend surgery.

There are several different surgical techniques used to correct a bunion, but the goal of bunion surgery is essentially to restore normal positioning and alignment of the big toe joint. Most people experience significant bunion pain relief after they fully recover from the procedure.

Depending on your specific issue and the surgical technique used to correct it, the recovery time for bunion surgery varies. But it often takes between 6 and 12 weeks — one reason why this procedure is reserved only when pain is severe or mobility is limited.

It’s not a procedure we perform for solely cosmetic reasons. Additionally, even after bunion surgery, it will be important to make conservative footwear choices — continuing to avoid high heels and narrow shoes.