What treatment options exist for bunions?
Early treatments are aimed at easing the pain of bunions, but they will not reverse the deformity. Early treatment options include: • Changing shoe wear (eliminating shoes with high heels and small tight toe boxes) • Placing padding over the bunion while wearing correct shoes • Avoiding activities that cause bunion pain, including prolonged standing • Medications like ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), may help to relieve pain • Icing your bunion several times a day helps reduce inflammation and pain When the pain of a bunion interferes with daily activities, surgical removal of the bunion may be considered and discussed with a podiatric surgeon. The severity of the deformity, your age, your activity level, and other medical conditions you may have will be taken into account in determining whether you are a good candidate for a bunionectomy (surgical removal of the bunion) and which type of bunionectomy is right for you.
