If you suffer from bunions, your podiatrist may eventually recommend surgery to realign the bones in your foot and correct the issue. In the meantime, however, you need to find ways to keep bunion pain at bay so you can keep on living your life. In addition to using pain relief medications like naproxen and ibuprofen, these three strategies will help keep your bunion pain to a minimum.
Soak your foot in Epsom salts.
This treatment is especially useful at the end of a long day spent on your feet. Epsom salts contain magnesium and sulfate ions, which penetrate your skin and help alleviate muscle soreness and tension. They also sooth your skin, which is helpful if your bunions have caused any rubbing or blisters.
To make an Epsom salt soak, fill a foot soaking pan or plastic tub with warm water. Then, add a couple of handfuls of Epsom salts. There's no need to measure; this is not a precise science. Set your feet in the tub, and let them soak for about 20 minutes. You should feel the pain literally melting away.
Rub your foot with eucalyptus-based gel or cream.
The eucalyptus-based gels and creams made for athletes' sore muscles will also work wonders for your bunions. This is a good remedy to use in the middle of the day on your lunch break or if you wake up with soreness in the morning. Simply take a teaspoon or so of the cream or gel, and massage it into the bunion with your fingers. Make sure you spend plenty of time rubbing it in. This warms up the skin, which makes the cream even more effective. Put a sock on over the cream; it will keep working for a few hours.
Ice your foot.
If the tissue around your bunion is notably swollen, then icing your foot is a good idea. This will bring down the swelling and make you more comfortable. The easiest way to go about this is probably to hold an ice pack or package of frozen veggies against your bunion. Place a thin cloth between your skin and the ice to prevent skin damage. You could also just set your foot in a tub of ice water for a few minutes.
If your bunion pain is getting to the point that it's interfering with your day-to-day life, then it is time to talk to your podiatrist (like those at Foot & Ankle Care Center PA and other offices) about surgery. Bunion surgery is quite common and straightforward. You'll have to wear a special shoe for a few weeks until you recover, but once you're healed, you'll feel so much better.
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