You may have put off seeing a foot specialist for your bunion, even though it is extremely painful. However, if a bunion is allowed to grow uncorrected, the pain may spread to other areas of the foot—and even walking barefoot will not ease the pain.
At HealthMark Foot & Ankle Associates, our Phoenixville podiatrists can tell you what caused your bunion, how you can ease the pain in your foot, and how you can stop the bunion from coming back in the future. First, let’s take a look at your shoes:
- Past: Wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes is the number-one cause of bunions in America, so it’s no surprise that over half of the women in the country will suffer a bunion in her lifetime. As much as ninety percent of bunions occur in women, and this deformity is especially likely for those who wear pointed-toed shoes, such as narrow dress shoes or high heels.
- Present: If you currently have a bunion, stop wearing high heels or other uncomfortable shoes immediately. Buy shoes with a wide toe box, and pad the protruding toe joint to ease the pressure on your foot as you walk. Your podiatrist may also recommend spacers, which separate your first and second toes and gradually realign your bent big toe.
- Future: Bunions will distort the size of your foot and may force you to buy a larger size until the bunion has been corrected. After your foot has recovered, have your feet measured for properly-fitting shoes with a toe box wide enough to accommodate your spread toes.
Many people who cannot live with the pain, or have a severe foot deformity, will choose to undergo bunion surgery in Philadelphia, but bunions will often recur if the patient continues to wear improper shoes.
As trusted Philadelphia podiatrists, we can treat your bunion pain, correct your toe position, and teach you how to prevent the condition from coming back. To find out how great it feels to live pain-free, call us today for a consultation in Media at 610-565-3668 or in Phoenixville at 610-933-8644 to start your first consultation.
Learn more about taking great care of your feet! Click the link on this page to receive a FREE copy of our informational guide, The Foot is Not an Island: Recognizing Vitamin D Deficiency & How to Correct It.