For All My Bunion Sufferers, Don’t Lose Hope!

This is an area where I cannot relate at all, and that’s because I have no experience with bunions whatsoever. I have never experienced them nor has anyone else in my immediate family, fortunately enough of course!

However, from what I know and have heard, bunions are a pain, both literally and visually for most!

Most people who suffer from bunions are concerned about the way their feet appear, and as a result opt for close toed shoes. Pain is another aspect which bunion sufferers have to unfortunately endure. Pain levels tend to range from very mild to pretty unbearable, and the severity of the condition may differ from one person to another.

 

What Are Bunions & Why Do They Form?

What are bunions anyways, and why do they form? According to WebMD, it’s basically a bony bump on the joint where your foot meets the big toe. It’s this bony bump that gives the bunion it’s trademark appearance we are all so used to seeing, and that’s because it forces the big toe to turn inward and push against the other toe.

So why does it happen? It’s hard to say because there could be many reasons for bunion formation. For one person, it might be because of wearing improperly sized foot wear or foot wear that’s too tight. Because of this the toes get cramped and pushed together, and over time a bunion forms.

For another person, it might be completely genetic and hereditary. Maybe your mother/father had a foot bunion, and so you may be more likely to inherit the same. For another person, inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis could be a potential contributing factor in bunion formation.

These are just a few of the reasons, but there are many more. Of course everyone is different and understanding why you have bunions to begin with will help you determine the best means of treatment.

 

Can You Massage A Bunion Away?

To be completely honest, it is a little complicated. Massage can definitely help, but it needs to be done consistently with proper technique. If these 2 things are maintained, massage may help to bring the joint back into position. However…..

This is only applicable to mild bunions. Massage works best at treating bunions when they just recently start to form.

If you suffer from a more severe case, massage will definitely help relieve symptoms like pain and inflammation, but it might not be as effective in reversing the situation altogether. In this case, alternative methods should be discussed and sought with your doctor.

If you think about it intuitively, massage is not going to be effective at repositioning or pushing a joint back in place. When the condition is mild, it’s possible, otherwise it’s not.

 

How Do I Know If Massage Will Be Effective At Treating My Bunions?

Before even thinking about massage, you need to have your condition assessed and diagnosed. For this to happen you need to see someone called a podiatrist. These are medical specialists who are trained to treat conditions in the feet, ankle, and leg.

I would recommend getting your physician to put in a referral for a podiatrist.

Only after consulting with a podiatrist should you attempt massage. You don’t want to turn an already bad situation into something worse, and so it’s best to consult with a specialist to get an expert opinion. If there’s no concern from the podiatrist’s end, you can try massage and see how it works.

Worst case it ends up being ineffective, best case it turns out to reverse your situation entirely. Either way massage is generally safe if done correctly, and is therefore worth trying out.

 

What Are Some Of The Ways To Massage Bunions?

There’s tons of awesome tutorials you can find online, especially on YouTube. After doing a bit of research, I do like this one from The Foot Scraper: DG Podiatrist YouTube channel!

Give it a shot and see how it works for you!

 

If Massage Doesn’t Work, What Else Can I Do?

There are a few different options when it comes to treating bunions. The more conservative ones include ice application to help with inflammation, changing shoes to those that offer more space to the toes (specifically the big toe), wearing bunion pads/cushions etc. Surgery is of course also an option, but I personally would consider this as a last resort. However, that’s just me.

You should speak to your podiatrist and determine the best course of treatment based on your condition specifically. Upon diagnosing your condition, they will be able to tell you this pretty easily.

 

And That’s Pretty Much It!

Does massage help bunions? Yes, in some cases, no in others. The best way to deal with bunions is…to prevent them from even happening in the first place! (if this is possible for you).

That means wearing comfortably sized footwear with lots of wiggle room and in general, caring for your feet! This is where a foot massage every month (or more often) would do a world of good! This applies to both men and women.

The next best bet is to deal with the problem in its early stages, that is when the bony bump is only starting to appear. This is the best time to deal with it because the condition is easily reversed and usually the least painful.

I’ll end this post then by giving you a reminder to always seek professional help. In this case, consulting a podiatrist and your physician is the best bet. Cannot overstate this enough!

And that’s pretty much all there is to it. If you take the right care and the right precautions, hopefully bunions is something you’ll never have to read about again!

As always, questions/comments are welcome down below. Till the next one!