Why did you get them, what you can do to fix them (before or after surgery) and how to prevent them.
Did you inherit your bunion from your grandmother or from wearing pointy shoes? The grandmother theory comes closest. You inherited a foot type that often develops bunions. Different types of feet develop different types of problems.
This type is subjected to an angular force on the front of the foot with every step. This causes the big toe to be pushed toward the other toes repeatedly, creating the bunion.
Let’s start with how you can prevent or decrease a bunion by correcting your foot mechanics. Custom insoles (orthotics) bring the earth to the foot instead of forcing your foot to accommodate to the earth. That means filling the space between your foot and the ground instead of twisting your foot to reach the ground.
There are many ways to make an orthotic, but the more information you have, the better the orthotic. An extensive biomechanical exam gathers information about how your foot is put together, how your foot is connected to your leg, the angles of your ankles and knees, what types of shoes you wear and how you use your feet.
A 3D digital scan gets sent to a lab where they make a model of your foot, then fabricate the orthotic using that model. Orthotics can move between shoes, so you don’t have to have them for every pair.
Do you already have a painful bunion? Insoles and specific shoes may help. You’re more likely to need physical therapy (PT) or surgery. Typical old-fashioned PT that uses only exercise is not going to help. You will need to find a PT who knows toes, and that’s not common. PT for a bunion decreases pain, inflammation, and restores foot posture. Until recently, you would typically receive heat, ultrasound, massage, stretching and insoles. In the past few years, the advent of regenerative medicine (Class 4 lasers and Shockwave) has changed PT. We now use tools that heal the arthritis, tendonitis and sesamoiditis that accompany your foot pain. This tech will get you relief in just a few visits.
If neither insoles nor advanced tech physical therapy has worked, surgery may be next. In Virginia, both podiatrists and medical doctors can be foot surgeons. The severity of your bunion determines the procedure. You may be able to bear weight in a week, or be off it for months.
If you’ve had surgery and still have pain, you should definitely contact a foot and ankle physical therapist.
I hope this helps you navigate how to stop your feet from hurting.
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