On Guard... Bunion Guard That Is

Nine out of ten bunions occur in women. The reason being that most women are
prone to wearing ill-fitting shoes that are simply too tight (some women even undergo surgery to remove a toe so that their feet are better able to fit into exceedingly small shoes); high heels, for example. An abnormal, bony lump that occurs on the metatarsophalangeal joint (see, there's a reason it's called the big toe -- no one can say 'metatarsophalangeal'), a bunion forces your big toe towards the other toes, placing additional
pressure on them which further exasperates the problem. In time, the swelling and soreness will grow from mild to severe and the skin and tissue around the bunion may harden or become inflamed.

Given the prevalence of the problem, and the pain it causes, it's good to know that the solution is actually simplicity at its finest. Bunion guards offer relief from painful bunions, are inexpensive and can be worn all day long. While differences abound, the average bunion guard is comprised of a soft, durable gel (like silicone) and is placed under the offending toe so as to absorb pressure and prevent rubbing and impact when walking. Odorless and hypoallergenic, bunion guards are a simple, cheap means to treat Hallux Valgus (the formal term for bunions).

While conservative treatment -- padding and taping, medication, physical therapy, and orthotics -- is usually sufficient, in some extreme cases surgery is required. As with any form of surgery, a 'bunionectomy' is not without its own share of risk and should thus be considered only when all other treatment options have been exhausted. Recovery may take a few weeks or longer after surgery, though in some cases people are able to walk on the
foot immediately afterwards. Because we advocate conservative treatment (as should most anyone), below are just some examples of the non-surgical options available to bunion sufferers:

• - Padding and Taping: While a basic solution, taping the bunion helps minimize pain and can help you resume normal activity. Bunion guards, bunion sleeves, and bunion comforters all assist in alleviating pain.
  
• - Medication: Non-Steroidal, Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen will ease pain and inflammation. Cortisone injections can also be administered.
  
• - Physical Therapy: Pain and inflammation relief while sitting in a whirlpool bath? Sign me up!

And last but not least, the easiest and most effective means of combating bunion development and pain... change your shoes. As silly as it sounds, simply wearing comfortable, properly fitting shoes is usually more than sufficient means to stop the onset of bunions. What a crazy world we live in!

Of course, all this information is of little help if you've already got a bunion or two, and because we just want to help, we've put together links to bunion's guards, bunion pads and every other form of treatment we could find. All of which are lumped (couldn't help it, sorry) to the right-hand side of this page. So go on, take a look, you might be surprised.

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