Conservative Treatment of Bunions

Treatment for bunions typically begin with conservative, non-surgical therapies. Some of the common treatment options include:

Footwear modifications. Choose shoes that have a wide toe box, and avoid those with pointed toes or high heels. High heels increase pressure on the bunion as well so lower heels will help minimize pain.
Padding. Bunion pads placed over the area may help reduce pain.
Analgesics. Your podiatrist can help discuss the best pain medication option. This may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Ibuprofen that can help relieve the pain and inflammation.
Heat or Ice. This condition may respond better to either heat or ice. Try heat prior to exercise and Ice afterwards.
Injection therapy. Injections techniques may be used to treat the inflamed tissue around the joint when used in conjunction with other treatment modalities.
Orthotic therapy. Custom orthotic devices can help address the underlying causes and symptoms to reduce pain and progression of the condition. If dress shoes are If a bunionectomy is necessary, orthotics are typically prescribed to keep the patient from pronating and the bunion from redeveloping. If dress shoes are a requirement custom dress orthotics are available.
Skin care. Removal of callus and corns help to reduce the pressure that causes the pain.