Bunion Pain Relief Bunion Corrector
Brooke Maneval, LAT, ATC
Certified Athletic Trainer
Written by Robert Gore
Last Updated: November, 2024
Bunion Correctors
🇺🇸 Corporate Headquarters in USA
Brooke Maneval, LAT, ATC
Certified Athletic Trainer
Written by Robert Gore
Last Updated: November, 2024
Bunion Correctors
🇺🇸 Corporate Headquarters in USA
Do you suffer from painful bunions and find your feet feeling uncomfortable throughout the day? If so, a bunion corrector might just be the product to help you. Depending on your level of pain and discomfort, the gentle push and pull of these products can work wonders.
Additionally, if you choose a style with compression fabric, the gentle compression of the soft fabric will help keep your pain from getting worse. Compression increases blood flow which in turn delivers more oxygen to the affected area.
A bunion is a hard, bony deformity that develops in the toe joint at the base of your big toe. It is a deformity of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The medical term for a bunion is hallux valgus.
The main way to tell that you are developing a bunion is that your big toe will begin to point towards your other toes that are on the same foot and the toe joint at the base of the toe will begin to bulge out.A bunion will not go away on its own, but you have many options for treatment to keep it from getting worse:
Nonsurgical treatments that can relieve the pain and pressure of a bunion include:
You will find a variety of bunion corrector products that all differ in shape, style, and size, so knowing when you plan to wear your product, and for how long each day, will help you decide.
For mild cases, begin by wearing your corrector sleeve at night since you won’t be on your feet. Then, if it feels ok under your sock, you can try wearing your bunion corrector during the day too. Through trial and error, you’ll discover the perfect combination to relieve your pain and inflammation and straighten out your toe.
The first step is to relieve the pain and pressure by wearing the right kind of shoe. (It's also important to maintain a normal weight.) Shoes should have a wide, flexible sole to support the foot and enough room in the toe box (the part surrounding the front of the foot) to accommodate the bunion.
Good shoe choices are sandals, athletic shoes, and shoes made from soft leather. Shoes with a back should have a sturdy heel counter (the part surrounding the heel) to keep the heel of the foot snugly in place. You may be able to reshape narrow shoes with stretchers that make room in the toe box for the bunion. Keep heels low (no higher than an inch).
You can also protect the bunion with a moleskin or gel-filled pad/foot sleeve, available at drugstores. (Make sure your shoes have enough space to accommodate it.) A doctor may recommend semi-soft shoe inserts to help position your foot correctly as it hits the ground. You can also wear a splint at night to hold your toe straight and ease discomfort.
When a bunion is irritated and painful, warm soaks, ice packs, and non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen may help. Whirlpool, ultrasound, and massage may also provide some relief. Also, try wearing soft compression to ease pain and straighten your toe.
If no conservative treatment works to relieve pain or correct the deformity, surgery (bunionectomy) may be the best treatment option. Cortisone injections can relieve pain temporarily by reducing inflammation, but they have many side effects, especially when used often and at high doses.
RiptGear’s bunion pain relief bunion corrector comes in Small / Medium and Large sizes. They are sold as a pair and we found that the available sizes fit the majority of users.