Wearing comfortable shoes on a daily basis, such as sneakers, is essential to prevent bunions. Now, in case you want to wear high-heeled shoes, you must ensure that they do not exceed 6 centimeters in height and that the toe is wide enough so that the toes are not tight.
Can bunions really be prevented? Bunions are one of the most painful and frequent deformities that occur in the feet. They can appear as a consequence of the use of inappropriate footwear on a daily basis, although it can also be a hereditary problem.
Do you want to know more about the causes that lead to its appearance? Would you like to know how you can prevent bunions? Well, keep reading.
Why are bunions produced?
A bunion is a bony lump that forms at the joint at the base of the big toe. It occurs when some of the bones in the front of the footfall out of place.
This causes the tip of the big toe to point toward the smaller toes, making the joint at the base of the big toe stick out. Smaller bunions may also develop at the little toe joint, although it is not as common.
Among the causes that can favor the appearance of bunions, we find the use of tight and narrow shoes. They can also be due to the shape of the foot, a deformity of the foot, or a disease such as arthritis. Also, we find a certain genetic component.
In principle, it is not a serious problem, but it is very annoying, so we recommend that if you notice the protrusion in the foot and feel pain, you go to the doctor immediately. In addition, although it is not very frequent, it can sometimes present complications, such as certain inflammations.
Treatment
The best-known treatment for this ailment is surgery. This is the favorite of a large number of people since it allows us to permanently and safely eliminate this problem. It is estimated that in Spain alone, around 5,000 of these surgeries are performed each year.
The most requested by patients is percutaneous. This involves a much smaller incision and the aesthetic results are more satisfactory, both for patients and for surgeons.
All in all, depending on the severity of your case, your doctor may prefer to try other, more conservative methods that can help relieve pain and pressure. If this doesn’t work, surgery will surely be suggested. Some of the treatments are:
- Roomy and comfortable shoes that leave enough room for the toes.
- Fillers or special pads for bunions, for sale in pharmacy. These act as a shock absorber between the foot and the shoe, thus helping to relieve pain.
- Some medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium.
- Cushioned insoles to help distribute pressure evenly when moving your feet. This can help you reduce symptoms and keep your bunion from getting worse.
- Apply ice to the bunion after standing for too long or if it becomes inflamed. This can help ease pain and inflammation. However, we advise you to consult your doctor before applying ice in case you have circulation problems.
Can bunions be prevented?
The best way to prevent bunions is something as simple as wearing comfortable shoes every day. Therefore, the ideal would be to avoid wearing heels.
However, if you want to do it, the most advisable thing would be not to wear them for long periods of time and, if possible, not daily.
When wearing heels, it is advisable to take breaks to rest from time to time, as well as avoid standing for a long time with them. Otherwise, the appearance of pain and the accentuation of other discomforts are promoted.
In addition, it is recommended that the heel does not exceed six centimeters in height. And is that when they are very high, the toes are pushed towards the tips of the shoe and the big toe is totally compressed between the shoe and the other toes, and even more so if the shoe is pointed toe.
Therefore, the footwear that should be worn more often is low-heeled. In addition, it is recommended that the tip be comfortable and allow the fingers to be loose and move freely.
Also, in popular culture, it is believed that soaking your feet in a container of warm salt water can help reduce foot pain. Although there are no studies to demonstrate such a claim, it is true that it is a remedy that has been used for a long time and that also usually produces pleasant sensations.
Remember that the excessive use of heels, poor postural hygiene and other factors can contribute to the bunions becoming more pronounced and the pain being more intense, affecting the health of your feet.
To take into account to relieve and prevent bunions
In case you already have a bunion or are starting to go out, try to go to your doctor and follow his instructions. The professional will indicate what you must do in your day to day to feel better. Also, if you consider it, he will prescribe, as we have seen, anti-inflammatory drugs and some analgesics that help with pain.
Additionally, you may seek relief from physical therapy. This, accompanied by the use of cushioned insoles, can be another effective measure to calm, a little, the pain that occurs when the shoe rubs with the foot.
In any case, what you should never do is do nothing, since as we have seen, this disease could present complications, in addition to being very annoying. The sooner you act, the easier it will be to eliminate the problem and the less discomfort you will feel.
We hope that now that you know how to prevent bunions and how bothersome this disease can be, you will listen to us and start using comfortable shoes. Your feet and your health will thank you.