Don’t Let Bunion Pain Slow Your Holiday Roll

At Texas Foot Specialists, we often see patients at this time of year whose bunions are causing them excruciating pain and discomfort. This is not surprising. Most of us are on our feet way more than at other times of year shopping, cooking, socializing and trying to get it all done on a deadline! There are ways, however, to decrease the pain and increase your enjoyment of the holiday season.

Visit the Podiatrist—your first stop for bunion pain relief is our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-991-0600) or Houston (713-664-6677) office so that our podiatrists Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum can examine your bunion and make adjustments in your treatment plan as needed. Bunions are a progressive condition, which means they will worsen over time. The foot doctor may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or cortisone injections to relieve pain.

Adjust Your Footwear—changing your shoes can go a long way to reducing bunion pain. Styles that have a wide, roomy toe box and are made of soft, malleable material will put less pressure on the bunion. In some cases, a custom orthotic may help reposition the foot for increased comfort. Avoid high heels because
they force the foot forward and put extra pressure on a bunion.

Protect with Padding—use non-medicated pads to cover your bunion. This will lessen friction and pressure from footwear, and can also help prevent a corn from developing.

Take a Break—if you find your bunion pain is increasing, re-work your holiday plans so that you can spread out activities that require you to be on your feet for long periods of time. Instead of a marathon eight-hour day of shopping, make a few shorter excursions. Apply ice to the bunion when you are resting it.

If you have concerns about a bunion or other chronic podiatric condition, don’t hesitate to contact us today.