A bunion can become so inflamed and swollen that it becomes increasingly uncomfortable to walk and go about your daily routine. Before your bunion discomfort worsens, visit with Les J. Glubo, DPM, FACFAS, and Dawn Olsen Figlo, DPM, at Grand Central Foot Care to see which bunion treatment is right for you. Centered in the heart of New York, near Midtown East and Murray Hill, the clinic is conveniently located. Click on the online scheduling feature to book, or call the office.
Your shoes can certainly cause issues with your natural foot shape, particularly if they’re pointy, snug-fitting, or high-heeled shoes. Each time you slip on your tight shoes, your big toe gets pushed out of alignment and squeezes up next to your smaller toes. If you continue wearing those poor-fitting shoes on a daily basis, your toe joint starts to change — permanently.
While certain shoes can certainly increase your risk of bunions, they’re not the only cause. You can also develop bunions due to:
Arthritis
Trauma
Inherited foot structure
Plus, as your big toe gets pushed sideways, you also risk developing hammertoe and mallet toe deformities in your smaller toes.
If left untreated, bunions can progressively worsen from causing occasional pain to chronic discomfort. As the bony bump at the base of your toe continues to get bigger, you could experience:
Swelling and inflammation
Limited toe movement
Overall arch and foot discomfort
You also have a high chance of developing corns across the tops of your toes — especially if your bunions cause hammertoes — as well as calluses in weight-bearing areas or over the bony bump. While it’s best to start therapy right away if you notice a bunion forming, the skilled podiatry team at Grand Central Foot Care can certainly help you get through the most complex bunion issues.
Your podiatrist usually starts you with conservative bunion treatments to help relieve pain and prevent ongoing discomfort. Your personalized bunion treatment plan at Grand Central Foot Care may include:
Custom orthotics
Anti-inflammatory medications
Padding, strapping, or taping
Specialized wide shoes
Bunion stretches and exercises
While these therapies can help you get through painful bunion flare-ups, the only way to permanently treat a bunion is through surgery. Bunion surgery, usually performed on an outpatient basis, is a minimally invasive procedure.
Most men and women can walk within a few days of surgery and can return to work the following week. No matter how minor or how severe your bunion may be, rest assured, you can get the relief you need.
You have plenty of options for bunion relief at Grand Central Foot Care. See what the team can do for you by booking an exam online or over the phone.
