How are Bunions Treated?
Posted on Fri, Aug 26, 2011 @ 01:43 PM
As with any medical condition, early treatment of bunions is preferred as delays allow the condition to get worse and may make treatment for difficult later. Doing away with wearing shoes that have a narrow toe box or at least reducing how often those shoes are worn will help. While 4” spike heels might be all the rage right now, they are not meant for all day wear or for walking more than very short distances. Men who are not generally so adversely affected by the dictates of fashion still should examine the shoes they wear and stick with supportive oxford style shoes.
For background on what a Bunion is and what problems it can cause, please see our previous blog: My Toes are Crooked – Part 2: Bunions
“Corrective” Bunion Straps
There are numerous bunion straps and corrective devices on the market. Though some will fit in shoes, it is debatable to think that once your foot is in a shoe any strap will really offer correction. The best use of bunion straps is for nighttime wear to apply a gentle corrective stretch on the big toe in order to lessen the tightness of the soft tissue and ligaments around the toe. A light stretch that can be tolerated throughout the night is generally going to be more effective than a strong stretch that is only tolerated for an hour. At best a good bunion strap can help reduce the progression of the deformity, not permanently correct existing angulation.
Photo 1 Source: 3pp® Bunion-Aider™
Photo 2 Source: Nighttime Bunion Regulator™
Photo 3 Source: Bunion Aid® Splint
Bunion Surgery
Surgery is an option for those whose bunions interfere with walking and for whom the pain affects their quality of life. The challenge with surgery is that success depends on age, the degree of angulation and the initial cause.
For those whose bunions are strongly genetically based, surgery may be less likely to offer a permanent solution. For those whose bunions were primarily caused by shoe style choice, surgery, in addition to a permanent change in shoe choice, has a better chance of long term correction.
Surgical options for hallux valgus may include rebalancing the tendons and ligaments to correct force on the toe or removing the damaged joint and fusing the joint with wire or a metal plate and screws. This is a serious step and should be considered only after a thorough evaluation by a surgeon who specializes in foot surgery.
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