How to Prevent Bunion Pain

Your feet are essential parts of your body, constantly flexing to support your weight as you stand, walk, run, and do all the things you need to do every day. Foot pain can make you very uncomfortable and can make getting things done much more difficult. Learn how to prevent bunion pain, a common type of foot ailment.

Dr. Leonard Greenwald is a highly skilled podiatrist and surgeon with a medical practice in San Jose, California. Leonard Greenwald, DPM, offers a full range of foot and ankle care services, from treating sports injuries to diabetic foot care. Supported by his experienced and friendly staff, Dr. Greenwald offers effective treatments for bunions to relieve your discomfort and prevent it from returning. 

What is a bunion?

Joints are places in your body where two bones meet, such as your knees, hips, and elbows. Your feet contain 26 bones, allowing them to flex in many ways as you move and to support your body weight in a variety of positions. Your metatarsophalangeal joint is located at the base of your big toe, appearing as a small curve on the inside of your foot. 

A bunion is a bony bump that appears on this joint, which can become enlarged, inflamed, and painful. It’s caused by the bones in the forward part of your foot moving out of alignment, causing your big toe joint to jut out to the side. A bunion can limit movement of your big toe, making simple, everyday activities such as walking much more difficult.

What causes bunions?

A number of factors can contribute to the development of bunions, including wearing overly narrow shoes that push your toes into unnatural positions. Genetic factors that control the shape of your foot can also play a role in the formation of bunions. Arthritis can impact the joints in your feet, contributing to bunions as well. 

How to prevent bunion pain

There are things you can do to prevent bunions from developing in the first place. Taking care of your feet is important, and supporting them with comfortable shoes is essential to your foot health. Choose shoes with wide toe boxes that allow your toes to rest in their natural position. Avoid shoes with narrow toe boxes that force your toes inward.

If you have issues with foot pain, either from bunions or other conditions, it’s important to be under the care of a qualified podiatrist. Dr. Greenwald provides high quality, comprehensive foot care that supports effective management of any foot conditions you have. 

Dr. Greenwald finds the root cause of your bunion pain and provides effective treatments to relieve your discomfort and prevent your condition from worsening. He develops a treatment plan that’s tailored to your needs. Typically, he recommends simple lifestyle changes such as better shoes and limiting painful activities to reduce your bunion pain. 

Dr. Greenwald can also provide special shoe insoles known as orthotics to better support your feet. If needed, he may recommend surgery to remove painful bunions that aren’t responding to more conservative treatments. 

To learn more about bunion treatments, call our office to set up an appointment today. You can also text us, or use our convenient online booking system any time.