Bunion Do’s and Don’ts

One of the more common podiatric concerns that we at Goldsmith Podiatry see in our Manhattan patients is bunions. Nearly everyone can identify this condition by the signature bump at the base of the big (or sometimes pinky) toe, but beyond that, it’s often unclear to patients what to do about it. Below are some do’s and don’ts to help clarify this condition.

Do: make an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling: 212-877-1002 at the first sign that you may have a bunion forming. This toe deformity occurs as a result of the toe joint moving out of place and beginning to drift toward the second toe. The further the joint gets displaced, the larger the bony protrusion gets. There is much that our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, and Dr. Kristina Ruff can do to treat bunions in their early stages, however, so it’s best to get a bunion evaluated at the very beginning.

Don’t: be surprised if the foot doctor asks questions about your family medical history. The biomechanical defect that leads to a bunion is often genetic and can be passed on. The foot doctor will also want to know about past foot injuries and the types of shoes you wear as these can also be causes of a bunion.

Do: make changes to your footwear if you’ve been diagnosed with a bunion. High heels that force your foot forward and styles with narrow, pointy toes increase the pain and pressure on the defective joint and may cause a bunion to worsen quickly. Choose styles with wide, roomy toe boxes and keep heels to a maximum height of two inches.

Don’t: ignore a bunion—it’s not going away! Bunions are a progressive condition that will get worse over time. The podiatrist can use a number of conservative measures such as padding and taping, physical therapy, and custom orthotics to slow the progression of the bunion.

Do: ask your podiatrist about how to relieve bunion discomfort. The foot doctor may suggest icing the affected area, cortisone injections, and/or anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and inflammation. Often corns or calluses may form where one toe rubs on another or up against your shoes. These may need to be treated as well.

Don’t: hesitate to discuss your bunion progression with the foot doctor. Eventually many patients get to the point where they need to consider surgery to permanently correct a bunion. If you have questions, contact us today.