When you begin to develop bunions, those unpleasant outgrowths on the side of your foot next to your big toe, you may wonder what you can do about it. Unfortunately, the only surefire cure for bunions is surgery. However, there are ways to cope with your bunions instead of surgery or to delay surgery. All you need to do is focus on not making your bunions worse and on treating and preventing any pain and discomfort you may feel as a result of your bunions. Then you can go about the work of taking better care of your feet. 

Get Fitted For New (Orthopedic) Shoes

Back in the day, to get new shoes, people would go to a shoe store (or before that a cobbler) and get measured and fitted for their shoes. This helped to ensure that people were wearing the right shoes for their feet with enough space to prevent many major foot ailments while also providing support and comfort.

However, today most people assume that they know their shoe size and shop accordingly. This does not always result in proper support and/or sufficient space or room to ease the pain of foot ailments. So get fitted for a pair of shoes in a shoe store and purchase a pair of comfortable, roomy orthopedic shoes.

Pain Medications

To help manage the pain and discomfort of your bunions, you can also use pain medications. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be taken as directed by a medical professional to ease your discomfort. However, prolonged use of such medications can cause other health problems such as kidney or liver disease.

Your podiatrist or foot doctor may also administer corticosteroid injections. Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents that will reduce swelling and inflammation in the tissues surrounding the growth of the bunions on your feet. However, one injection will only last you a week or two before your pain and inflammation return and you will need another injection.

When it comes to taking care of your feet when you suffer from bunions, the only permanent solution to your problem is surgery. However, in the meantime you can get fitted for orthopedic shoes, and can use pain medications to help with whatever pain and inflammation you may feel. Be sure to give your feet plenty of rest and to visit your podiatrist regularly for checkups and steroid injections. And then when you are willing and able, you can get that surgery to remove your bunions once and for all. Speak with experts like those at the Affiliated Ankle & Foot Care Center for more advice.