Ways to treat bunions at home – insoles, splints, socks, massages

Proven content

Bunions occur when the tissue at the base of the big toe becomes swollen, forming a large lump on the side of the foot. Bunions can cause severe pain and eventually lead to arthritis. Fortunately, most bunions can be treated without surgery using home remedies.

What are bunions?

Bunions are one of the most common and painful foot ailments. Haluks, also known as hallux valgus (Latin. hallux valgus), occurs when the big toe points towards the other toe, causing a bump or protrusion on the inside edge of the big toe and the first metatarsal bone.

Symptoms include redness in the affected area, bursitis, blisters and / or callus formation above the bunion, and nerve damage, which may include numbness and / or severe pain. Untreated pain can also spread to nearby joints. Experts believe that bunions affect women much more often than men.

See also: Orthopedists shocked by the speed of the new formula’s effects on bunions

What causes bunions?

While a number of factors can increase the chances of developing a bunion, including arthritis, uneven limb lengths, and genetics, it is believed that shoes may be the main culprit. Fashionable women’s shoes (and some men’s shoes) tend to have tapered toes that push the big toes inward. Elevated heels and arch supports, also popular with conventional shoes, can also contribute to the development of bunions. Wearing these types of shoes for many years can lead to foot deformities, in which the big toe literally stays bent as it grows towards the other toe. When this happens, the point at which the bunion occurs continues to stick out.

In cultures of people who routinely walk barefoot, the toes are usually the widest part of the foot, and bunions are extremely rare. However, in our Western culture, the big toe is usually the widest point, and bunions located there are quite common.

Also check: Yes, you “work” on bunions. What habits and conditions increase their likelihood?

Home remedies for bunions – maintain a healthy weight

If we want to treat bunions without surgery, it’s important to keep the body in good shape. If we are overweight, we should try to lose extra pounds.

Our feet work hard to support the rest of our body, and simple activities such as walking and standing can put a lot of strain on our feet if they carry more weight than necessary. If the finger joints are under more pressure, they are more prone to inflammation and pain, which can make the bunions worse. Therefore, a great first step in treating bunions with home remedies is maintaining a healthy weight.

See also: Nine mistakes that keep you from losing weight

Home remedies for hallux disease – soaking the feet

Another way to treat bunions at home is to give your feet a bath several times a week. The best way to treat bunions without surgery is to maintain a healthy skin care routine. The better we take care of our feet, the less likely we are to suffer from related problems.

A simple 15-minute foot bath will relax your feet. For this, use warm water and Epsom salt if you experience puffiness, or pink Himalayan sea salt to relax and relieve bunions.

Also check: Home methods of foot care

Home treatment of bunions – cold compresses

If we have bunions and need relief after a long day of walking or standing, applying ice can reduce swelling and relieve pain. In this case, put an ice bag in a towel and apply it to the designated area for 15-20 minutes for optimal effect.

Cold compresses and foot baths will not cure the bunions without surgery, but they will certainly provide relief from bunions if your feet hurt after a long day of exercise.

See also: Warm and cold fun

Home remedies for bunions – exercise and stretching

Home treatments for bunions, such as physical therapy exercises, can help slow the progression of the bunions. Foot exercises and finger stretches for bunions can help keep the joint between the big toe and the rest of the foot flexible, keeping the flexibility and strengthening the muscles that control the big toe.

Here are exercises that may benefit people with bunions.

1. Finger stretching. Stretching your toes can help keep your toes fit and relieve pain in your feet. To stretch your fingers, point them straight forward for 5 seconds, then flex them for 5 seconds. The exercise is best repeated 10 times. These exercises can be especially beneficial if, in addition to bunions, we also suffer from hammer fingers or chronically bent fingers.
2. Bending and straightening the fingers. Professionals also recommend pressing your toes against a hard surface such as a wall to bend and stretch them; keep fingers in this position for 10 seconds and repeat three to four times. Then you need to bend your fingers in the opposite direction; hold the pose for 10 seconds and repeat three to four times.
3. Big toe stretching. It may also be helpful to use your fingers to gently pull your big toe into position. Keep your finger in this position for 10 seconds and repeat the movement three to four times.
4. Resistance exercises. Specialists additionally recommend resistance exercises for the big toe. To do this, wrap the toe with a towel or belt and use it to pull the toe towards you while pushing forward onto the towel with your big finger.
5. Rolling the ball. To massage the bottom of your foot, sit down, place a ping pong ball on the floor under your foot, and rotate it under your foot for two minutes. This can help relieve tension and spasms in the feet.
6. Grabbing a towel. You can strengthen your toes by spreading a small towel on the floor and using your toes to grasp it and then pull it towards you. The exercise should be repeated five times. Experts believe that grasping objects with your toes can help keep your foot flexible.
7. Collecting the balls. Another exercise of this type that can be performed to keep your foot flexible is to lift the balls with your toes. The exercise consists in placing 20 balls on the floor in front of you and lifting them with your feet one by one, then placing them in the bowl in this way.
8. Walk on the beach. Whenever possible, it is recommended to spend time walking on the sand. This can provide a gentle massage of the feet as well as strengthen the toes. This is especially beneficial for people who have bunion-related arthritis.

Specialists advise their patients to do foot exercises daily, preferably in the morning and evening. They suggest doing exercises at a time that is convenient for us, for example during commercial breaks while watching TV. Once this becomes a habit for us, it will be easy to exercise regularly.

It is important to keep your fingers moving throughout the day. Our feet are pressed in our shoes for an average of ten hours a day. Let’s take off our shoes for a few minutes and let the toes move to improve blood circulation in the feet.

These foot exercises provide a simple home treatment for bunion pain. They won’t get rid of this painful joint, but they will provide some relief from the bunions.

Ways to treat bunions at home – massage

One of the very good ways to treat bunions at home is to massage the feet. For massage, it is worth using lavender oil, which has the properties of relieving pain and inflammation. We can confidently do it ourselves. For this we will need olive oil and some dried lavender leaves. Heat everything up, strain and place the finished oil in a glass container. In the case of bunions, castor oil with analgesic properties is also great.

When massaging your feet, remember to do it slowly, with circular movements, applying pressure to each of the fingers in three places (at the base of the toe, at the joint and on the nail plate). Then, from the toes, head towards the heel and go all the way to the ankle. However, let’s be gentle and avoid any areas on the foot where there are cuts and abrasions.

Also check: SPA treatments – how much do they cost? Who are they recommended to? How to choose the best?

Home remedies for bunions – relax

Another simple change you can make to help yourself with home treatment for bunions is to change the position in which your feet rest. After sitting in the same position for a long time, it is recommended to prop your feet at a 45-degree angle for 2-5 minutes at the end of a long day to increase blood circulation and reduce pain or swelling.

It is worth following these few tips.

1. Let’s lie down comfortably on the floor, bed or sofa.
2. Let’s raise our legs with a few pillows.
3. Make sure we keep our feet above head and heart level.
4. Let’s ensure our own safety and be careful that our position does not cause back or neck injuries.

Also, remember to take short breaks to rest during the day. Walking or standing all day long puts pressure on your toe joints, so it’s important to keep your feet elevated and resting during the day.

Ways to treat bunions at home – insoles for bunions

There are many products for hallux disease that can help you treat it at home. Not all bunion products will help all feet, but it’s worth trying out bunion protectors. They usually come in the form of soft, gel-filled insoles that can be inserted into the shoe to prevent the bunions from rubbing against the inside of the shoe.

You can also try shoe insoles, which are designed to keep your foot in the correct position. You can buy them, among others, at medonetmarket, where orthopedic insoles for bunions are available, which are a non-invasive way to deal with this troublesome problem.

The purpose of these pads and insoles is to keep the foot in the correct position and prevent the bunions from rubbing and causing pain. If the bunions don’t hurt us when we’re not wearing our shoes, this can be a good alternative among home remedies for bunions.

See also: Orthopedic insoles – types, application, effects. How to choose orthopedic insoles?

Ways to treat bunions at home – splints for bunions

Rails for bunions are another type of very popular product for bunions. Unfortunately, they won’t heal the bunions without surgery, but they can provide some relief.

Bunion splints and other bunion correction products are designed to even out the shape of the foot by stretching or straightening the big toe in the intended position and away from the other toes.

We recommend choosing bunion splints, which are designed to be worn at home or while sleeping. We shouldn’t expect to get results overnight – it may take a week before we notice any improvement.

Hallux splints will not cure our bunions, but they can provide relief and help treat the bunions without undergoing surgery.

Ways to treat bunions at home – bunions socks

Among the products for bunions, you can also mention specially designed socks. They are designed to reduce the friction between the protruding bone and the surface of the shoe. For this purpose, seamless socks work best. Sometimes there is an opinion that compression socks will be a good choice for bunions, but it should be borne in mind that they restrict blood flow in certain parts of the limbs.

See also: How to choose socks that are good for your feet? You will avoid mycosis and other diseases

Home treatment of bunions – paracetamol

If the bunions are causing pain, it is recommended that you take paracetamol or ibuprofen. This type of anti-inflammatory medication is not a solution to treating bunions, but it does provide some pain relief.

Home remedies for hallux disease – herbs and plants

There are many plants and herbs that have an analgesic effect as well as support the treatment of inflammation occurring in various areas of the musculoskeletal system. In case of problems with bunions, it is worth using:

1. turmeric, which has many healing properties that can help with bunions, including its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. In the fight against bunions, you can use homemade turmeric paste. To make it, we need half a teaspoon of ground turmeric and one tablespoon of olive oil. The ingredients should be thoroughly mixed with each other. The finished ointment should be applied to the bunions and wait about 20 minutes, then rinsed with cold water. We repeat this procedure twice a day.
2. comfrey with a lot of ingredients, including allantoine, saponin, tannins and choline. Comfrey reduces pain, inflammation and swelling, which are a problem for people with bunions. In addition, the plant affects the faster regeneration of damaged bones and skin. In the case of comfrey, it is recommended to apply compresses of the grated comfrey root. You can also buy ready-made ointments based on this plant in pharmacies.
3. ginger root full of vitamins, minerals and essential oils, as well as resins that make ginger have, for example, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. People with hallux problems and wanting to benefit from the positive effects of ginger should grate the ginger root and add it to warm water, then soak your feet in it.

Also check: Medicinal herbs

Remedies for home treatment of bunions – soda

One way to treat luxu at home is to use baking soda. For this, it is enough to dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in a bowl of warm water and soak your feet in it (or you can prepare a special compress by mixing half a teaspoon of baking soda with a little water, thanks to which you will get a thick paste that you can put on the bunions and wrap with a bandage).

Soda has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which is why it is recommended for people who have problems with bunions. It is worth adding that more and more are heard about the benefits of injection of soda and calcium solution, which are supposed to positively affect the treatment of bunions. However, more research is still needed on this topic.

See also: Healing properties of baking soda

Home remedies for bunions – iodine

Iodine has properties that reduce pain and swelling appearing in the hallux valgus and joint. However, usually iodine is used together with other substances such as ammonia. The combination of iodine and ammonia softens bones and joints, reducing inflammation, pain and swelling. What’s more, this mixture, used at an early stage of the development of halluxes, is to completely eliminate them. Iodine with ammonia is mixed in a 1: 1 ratio, then the prepared mixture should be applied in a thin layer to the bunion every evening. The procedure should be repeated for a period of two weeks without interruption, then take a 2-week break and repeat the treatment.

Iodine can also be combined with aspirin, which is to stop the development of changes and reduce inflammation. In addition, the combination of iodine with aspirin can have a positive effect on redness and irritation of the epidermis, as well as prevent the formation of corns. One tablespoon of iodine should be mixed with three crushed aspirin tablets. The resulting paste should then be applied to the bunions and wrapped with a bandage for several hours. The treatment must be repeated every day.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the last combination, namely iodine and camphor (it has an anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect). It is enough to mix the two ingredients together and lubricate the bunions with them.

Home remedies for hallux disease – bay leaf

Bay leaf has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. It is successfully used for spurs, but it can also bring relief to people with bunions. Animal studies (mice and rats) have so far yielded positive results on the effects of bay leaves in treating inflammation.

To take advantage of the positive properties of this plant, we can prepare the oil. To do this, place in a glass container, e.g. a bottle or jar, 30 g of dried or fresh bay leaves and pour 250 ml of olive oil over them. The container should be tightly closed and set aside in a dark place for about 14 days, remembering to shake it from time to time. After two weeks, strain the oil, which is ready for use. Instead of the oil, it can also prepare a tincture of bay leaves. For this, in turn, we need 50 g of fresh bay leaves, which we must thoroughly wash and chop, and then put in a jar with 500 ml of 60% alcohol. Then you need to tightly close the jar and put it in a dark place for 2 weeks, then strain the tincture and pour it into a bottle.

Also check: You use it in the kitchen and it has amazing properties

Home remedies for bunions – apple cider vinegar

Among the ways to treat bunions at home, there is also apple cider vinegar, which is characterized by disinfecting and softening properties. What’s more, apple cider vinegar has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, thanks to which it reduces pain and swelling resulting from the presence of a hallux. To use apple cider vinegar, in case of bunion problems, dip a slice of bread in the vinegar, apply it to the deformation on the foot, then wrap it with gauze or bandage and leave it overnight. The treatment should be repeated daily.

Ways to treat bunions at home – bunion-friendly shoes

If we have bunions, we can still wear nice fashionable shoes. They just need to be hallux friendly!

You need to look for shoes that have a wide toe (part of the front of the shoe) and cushioning that protects these joints.

While it may seem obvious to some, wide cut shoes are often confused with bunions. The truth is, while many wide-cut shoes have enough room to accommodate bunions, if we don’t have wide feet, the back of the shoe won’t hold the heel in place. It’s also common for a bunion to only occur on one foot – that’s why wide cut shoes on a slim or normal foot – without bunions – won’t provide adequate support and can lead to foot health issues in the future.

You should also avoid shoes without supporting the arch of the foot. It’s time to get rid of the flip-flops that are not providing support for problem feet.

If we like high heels, we can wear them from time to time, but they shouldn’t be worn every day. Wedge shoes may prove to be a better option as they are more likely to distribute weight more evenly across the foot, or have a shallower angle that doesn’t press against the midfoot. It is also worth adding that shoes that need to be tied are better than slip-on shoes, because the laces prevent the foot from sliding forward with each step. This movement puts pressure on the big toe joint.

At this point, it should be added that according to specialists, the best time to look for shoes is in the evening. Feet usually swell up during the day, so they are at their highest in the evening. If we buy shoes at the beginning of the day, they can be tight in the evening. Our shoes should be comfortable as soon as we buy them (they should not be spread apart to be comfortable). Let’s take a walk and make sure the shoes are comfortable and fit well before we buy them. In correctly fitted shoes, the toes do not touch the front of the shoe and can be moved comfortably.

See also: It all starts with the feet

Ways to home treatment of luxów by a doctor or a podiatrist

While there are many ways to treat bunions at home, we may also visit a doctor or podiatrist to discuss other options available. There are non-surgical treatments that a professional can provide, such as electrical stimulation, that can reduce inflammation around the bunions.

Doctors can take X-rays to see what is happening in our feet. An x-ray will also help monitor whether the bunion is growing and requires surgery or not.