Everything You Need to Prevent and Treat Bunions, According to Podiatrists
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While we might all be curious about thebest plungerorprobiotic tamponorcold-sore remedy, it can be difficult to discuss these more personal items. That’s why we’re tacklingThings We Don’t Talk About, a series in which we track down the best hygiene-, sex-, and bodily function–related things we all need but might be too embarrassed to ask about. In this installment, we consult experts on the best treatments for bunions.
For the roughly30 percent of American adultswho suffer from bunions, the painful bump on your big toe is likely to be a progressive problem that gets worse over time. According toDr. Priya Parthasarathy, a bunion specialist and spokeswoman for theAmerican Podiatric Medical Association, “A bunion is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe — the metatarsophalangeal (MP) joint — that forms when the bone or tissue at the bigtoejoint moves out of place.” As the movement forces the toe to bend toward the others, an often painful, prominent bump is formed. Predisposition to bunions is typically genetic, but can also be caused by congenital deformities, flat feet and other poorfootmechanics, ill-fittingshoes, and inflammatory conditions, explains Dr. Miguel Cunha, founder ofGotham Footcare.
There are many over-the-counter products and at-home treatments designed to slow the progression of the condition and alleviate the discomfort of the symptoms, but bunions ultimately cannot be “reversed or corrected without surgery,” saysDr. Joseph Alencherry, who stresses it’s important to see a podiatrist — especially if you start to feel a lot of pain. If you’re cleared to treat your bunions yourself, the seven products below, selected by ninepodiatrists, can help.
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Every doctor we spoke with recommended investing in a pair oforthotic insolesas the first line of defense in slowing the progression of bunions. “By wearing insoles, you prevent thearchfrom flattening out, which causes the bunion to grow in size,” explains bunion and hammertoe corrective foot surgery specialistDr. Sophia Solomon. Ideally, our experts suggest seeing a doctor for custom-made insoles designed to your specific anatomy. But if seeing a specialist isn’t an option, Superfeet insoles come highly praised by six doctors we spoke to as the best over-the-counter option.
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An even less expensive set are these orthotic insoles from Powerstep, which come recommended by five of the doctors.Dr. Jacqueline Prevetesays they provide adequate support to the arch and may also “alleviate some overpronation,” which makes bunions worse. In conjunction with orthotics, “wearingsneakersandshoeswith a wide toe box is helpful,” saysDr. Rebecca Pruthiof Foot Care of Manhattan. “Gettingshoesstretched and wearing soft, natural flexible materials” will also reduce added inflammation of the toe joint caused by friction, she says.
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Dr. Krista Archerroutinely recommends YogaToes toe stretchers to her patients with bunions as a “super simple” way to prevent them from worsening. She suggests wearing them for 15 minutes a day to start, and then eventually working up to an hour. And although YogaToes have not been shown to reverse the deformity, they do “give some relief to aching bunions bystretchingout the tendons surrounding the big toe,” adds Soloman, who also tells her patients to do daily calf stretches to prevent bunion formation. And if you need any more endorsements: Strategist writersLauren LevyandLiza Corsilloalso swear by YogaToes, with Levy writing, “they’re comfortable enough to throw on as you relax on the couch, read a book, kick yourfeetup out of the bath (or in it; they’re waterproof), maybe even as you eat dinner.”
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PodiatristHillary Brennersuggests soaking your bunion-plagued feet inEpsom saltwhen they’re causing discomfort. The salt’s magnesium and sulfate are known anti-inflammatory agents, and can sootheachy jointswhile also easingmuscle pain. Dr. Amnon Barnea, owner ofWalk NYC Podiatry, also likes Epsom salt. Hesays to fill a bucket or tub with lukewarm water until yourfeetare covered, add “about half a cup of Epsom salt, and thensoakfor about 20 to 30 minutes.”
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“Wearing a bunion guard is a great option for those who have smaller deformities and just need some relief from the friction of the bunion bump against ashoe,” says Solomon. While there are plenty of cheap options lining the pharmacy aisle, PediFix’s Visco Gel Bunion Guard came highly recommended by our experts because of its comfortable, flexible material and slim design that can slip inside practically anyshoe.
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PediFix Visco-Gel Toe Spacers
“These are designed to minimizefrictionbetween the deviated big toe and the second toe, and to restore a better alignment in the joint of the big toe,” Barnea says of PediFix’s toe spacers. “By restoring a straighter alignment of thebig toe, there is less tension in the joint, which can help alleviate some of the pain.” Parthasarathy agrees, calling the Visco-Gel Toe Spacers a “favorite.”
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For a remedy you can do in your sleep (literally), four of our experts — Alencherry, Prevete, Parthasarathy, and Cunha — say that wearing a bunion splint at night canstretch outthe tightened ligaments and provide relief during the day. “I tell my patients that you will either love theseproductsor hate them, but it is definitely worth a try,” says Parthasarathy.
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