There are many ways in which our podiatric team can help you alleviate your bunion pain.

Are you suddenly noticing some pain and discomfort around the base of your big toe, particularly when walking around or standing in place for long periods of time? Is there a hard bump jutting out near your big toe? If so, you could be dealing with a bunion, a very common foot deformity. Do you have a bunion? Our McKinney and Prosper, TX, podiatrists Dr. Eric Silvers, Dr. Christopher Witt and Dr. Dustin Lloyd are here to give you the answers you need and many ways to treat your symptoms.

While the bad news is that a bunion won’t go away unless you have surgery to correct it, the good news is that you can prevent symptoms from rearing their ugly head by putting some foot-friendly measures in place. The sooner you get a diagnosis from our McKinney and Prosper, TX foot doctor the sooner you can start to provide your feet with the care they need to prevent the deformity from progressing.

Tip #1: Wear the Appropriate Footwear

This is by far the most important tip you can follow if you want to give your feet the care they deserve. Shoes that are too tight, scrunch up your toes or have a heel over 2 inches will put too much pressure on the bunion and make it worse. It’s important that when you find shoes that you look for these main things:

• Great arch support
• Ample room in the toe box (toes should be able to wiggle and move)
• A slight heel (again, nothing at or over 2 inches)

Tip #2: Consider Putting Orthotics in Your Shoes

So the over-the-counter shoe inserts that you can find at your local drugstore probably won’t provide you with much help for your specific condition; however, our foot doctors can create custom-made shoe inserts that are perfectly crafted to your specific foot structure to provide them with the support they need while also redistributing the weight evenly so excessive pressure isn’t put on the bunion when you walk or stand.

Tip #3: Don’t Forget to Work Out Those Feet

While we don’t mean that you should be lacing up those sneakers and taking to the running trails, we do mean that you should be performing certain therapeutic foot exercises each and every day to stretch and improve flexibility within the affected toe while also strengthening the muscles in your feet to improve the alignment. Here are some exercises you can perform at home to help ease pain and discomfort associated with your bunion.

Don’t let your bunion dictate your daily routine. Take charge and jump back into the action when you turn to our foot care specialists in McKinney and Prosper, TX. Call Advanced Foot and Ankle Center today to find the best approach for managing your bunion symptoms.