Treat Bunions Before Summer Shoe Season

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During the winter months, most of our Upper West Side patients keep their feet well covered, but at Goldsmith Podiatry, we know the few warm days we have are the heralds of warmer weather and open shoe season. If you have a bunion, now is the time to seek treatment. In addition to wanting to be able to wear your favorite sandals this summer without an unsightly bunion, there are other good reasons to get medical care. This deformity often leads to other secondary conditions such as corns, calluses, and hammertoes due to the strain exerted on the deformed toe from footwear.

Take the First Step

Our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith or Dr. Rosanna Troia will want to examine your toe and the rest of your foot to determine the severity of your bunion. For this reason, they may order digital x-rays of your toe, which can be done right in our Manhattan office. Even if your bunion is not painful or too enlarged, the foot doctor will want to monitor its progression and take action now to slow its growth. Bunions are a progressive condition and will only get worse as time goes on. Some treatment methods the foot doctor may suggest include:

  • Changing your shoes. Although the foot structure that predisposes you to bunions can be genetic, wearing shoes that squeeze the toes together can cause the bunion to form. These would be styles that have pointy toes and narrow toe boxes. High heels also contribute by exerting extreme pressure on the toes. Switching to wider shoes with lower heels will feel more comfortable and may slow a bunion’s progression.

  • Custom orthotics. The goal here is to try to realign the deformed toe and help correct the faulty foot mechanics behind the bunion.

  • Padding. The podiatrist may also suggest padding to prevent or relieve pain caused by corns, calluses.

  • Surgery. Ultimately, the only way to correct a bunion deformity is via surgery, usually performed on an out-patient basis.  Many of our patients can start walking on the affected foot within a few days. Don’t wait. If you have a bunion, contact us today for an appointment by calling: (212) 877-1002.

Common Foot ConditionsGoldsmith Podiatrybunion pain, bunion treatment, custom orthotics