You may have noticed that podiatrists aren’t big fans of the types of shoes that some people go crazy for: pointed toes, heels that come above the knee… you get the picture. The reason for this, however, is not that your podiatrist has some evil plan to make you as unfashionable as possible. It’s simply that the shoes considered fashionable are often the same shoes that can seriously aggravate numerous foot problems.

Take bunions. Now, bunions aren’t actually caused by wearing poorly fitting shoes, but they make an already difficult problem worse. Bunions are actually caused by congenital misalignments in the foot. These inherent structural problems with the foot will put more stress than usual on the joint where the big toe connects to the first metatarsal (the long bone that joins the big toe and runs down the middle of the foot). Eventually, this stress can cause the tissues around the joint to stretch and become less resistant, leading to further misalignment of the bones. Eventually, the metatarsal begins to protrude toward the inner edge of your foot, and the big toe begins to point toward the others. This often results in a bump on the inside edge of your foot right next to the big toe.

The issue many of you may be most interested in is that bunions can make it difficult or even impossible to wear shoes. The truth is, poorly fitting shoes are often the things that turn juvenile offenders’ bunions into real offenders. Shoes with tight toes or pointed heels can put even more stress on an already stressed toe joint, further aggravating foot misalignment. The good news is that sometimes giving up those pointy high heels can make your bunion problem much easier to bear.

The only way to permanently correct a bunion is through surgery. However, there are things you can do to get out of pain.

1) Get rid of those damn high heels and pointy shoes. Really. The best shoes, especially for people with bunion problems, have a toe box (the toe box at the bottom of the shoe) that accommodates all toes (not just the ones fashion says you should have) and allows them to move. a little.

2) Avoid heels that are higher than an inch or two (the lower the better). For some people (but not all), this may be all they need to do to get rid of the pain associated with bunions. However, many people will find that they need more extensive treatment.

3) Sometimes placing over-the-counter or felt bunion pads on the bunion will reduce pressure on the bump and provide considerable relief.

4) Bandaging the foot (you can ask your podiatrist how to do it correctly) can also help keep things in proper alignment, thereby reducing stress on the joint.

5) You can reduce the swelling associated with bunions by applying ice for twenty minutes per hour (always use a thin towel between the ice and your skin), or by using anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. (Your podiatrist may occasionally prescribe a stronger oral or injected anti-inflammatory medication.)

6) Some people also find that physical therapy (specifically ultrasound therapy) can reduce bunion pain.

7) If your podiatrist deems it necessary, braces can be used to try to correct the original misalignment that caused the problem and thus prevent the bunion from getting worse.

Unfortunately, sometimes previous treatments don’t correct the problem enough to allow you to live without significant pain. If that’s the case, then it may be time to discuss surgical options with your podiatrist.