Natural Ways To Improve Bunions? (remedy, surgery)

[Del Rozan]

Hey guys, has anyone experimented with or come across any methods which one could naturally wear down bunions? It sounds ridiculous, but I am genuinely interested if anyone has been able to come up with some sort of longterm pressure application that could work them out? Like a mouth retainer, for example. I am not hopeful since even celebs with unlimited wealth haven't achieved this (see, Lebrons feet via Courtside Scribbles)

I wouldn't necessarily want to straighten the whole thing (I think that's impossible without surgery), but it would be nice to 'right the ship' so-to-speak. AND I know the surgeries are supposed to be awful, so any ideas are most welcome.

[kennywally51]

Earth Clinic says chamomile tea, then place the used tea bags on bunions, besides rubbing them.


they also list calendula, and tumeric, best visit the site for all the particulars, and you'll have to use the search function....

[jaminhealth]

I've seen various products that one would put between the toes to straighten some. My mother had a dreaded bunion and would never do a surgery.

[tla921]

I tried numerous products to try to relieve the pain of mine.

Only surgery worked for me.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by Del Rozan

Hey guys, has anyone experimented with or come across any methods which one could naturally wear down bunions? It sounds ridiculous, but I am genuinely interested if anyone has been able to come up with some sort of longterm pressure application that could work them out? Like a mouth retainer, for example. I am not hopeful since even celebs with unlimited wealth haven't achieved this (see, Lebrons feet via Courtside Scribbles)

I wouldn't necessarily want to straighten the whole thing (I think that's impossible without surgery), but it would be nice to 'right the ship' so-to-speak. AND I know the surgeries are supposed to be awful, so any ideas are most welcome.

Because a bunion forms due to a functional problem with the joint, you have to manipulate the JOINT to reduce it. Its a mechanical issue; mechanics can help it the most. There are splints to straighten the toe and retrain the muscles. You could use that at night, but wear shoes with a wider toebox so your toes can spread, not cram together. There are gel pads you can put between the big toe and the others to help keep it straighter.

Putting anything on the skin isn't going to do a thing about the joint. All that might do is soften a callus or, if it was some sort of anti inflammatory that gets absorbed through the skin make it more comfortable. But, if the mechanical joint function isn't dealt with it won't have any lasting effect.

Both my parents had bunions. All their kids do as well, but the ones who insist on wearing pointy fashion shoes have the most trouble with them. I've needed corrective surgery on both feet for several reasons including shortening and straightening out the toe which definitely worked. No problems now, though I don't choose dumb shoes either.

[bluedevilz]

Originally Posted by Del Rozan

Hey guys, has anyone experimented with or come across any methods which one could naturally wear down bunions? It sounds ridiculous, but I am genuinely interested if anyone has been able to come up with some sort of longterm pressure application that could work them out? Like a mouth retainer, for example. I am not hopeful since even celebs with unlimited wealth haven't achieved this (see, Lebrons feet via Courtside Scribbles)

I wouldn't necessarily want to straighten the whole thing (I think that's impossible without surgery), but it would be nice to 'right the ship' so-to-speak. AND I know the surgeries are supposed to be awful, so any ideas are most welcome.

You can't "wear down" a bunion...a bunion isn't a callus

And no tea bags, turmeric or other supplements applied topically or orally will do anything for a bunion.

The proper medical term for a bunion is Hallux Valgus which essentially means the big toe is moving towards the other toes....its a literal change in the position and anatomy of the big toe typically with the bonus of bony enlargement of the 1st metatarsal head...again no topical remedy will correct the structural changes that occur with a bunion deformity.

All of what Parnassia posted above is spot on.

There is a genetic component and a shoe wear component to almost all bunion deformities.

If you want to "correct" a bunion without surgery, the best option is of course to prevent one from forming in the first place which means avoiding pointy toed shoes and heels....there is a reason why bunions are nearly 10 times more common in women than in men.

Of course if the bunion has already formed than the best you can do is still go for the wide toe box shoe and/or try the various toe spacers and splints one can find on the market....some work better than others....almost all are uncomfortable and rarely tolerated for long.

[tla921]

Originally Posted by tla921

I tried numerous products to try to relieve the pain of mine.

Only surgery worked for me.

I should clarify my response.

I used products (not topical) to try and keep my toes straight, including orthotics from my podiatrist - trying to avoid surgery.

If the bunion has already formed, surgery is the only long term treatment (not 100% guaranteed). Other than the pain associated, my issue was also that there was not enough room in shoes to accommodate the foot size.

Once I had surgery I had to buy smaller shoes.

[gypsychic]

I have bunions but they are not painful. They are genetic (for me) and I just go barefoot in the house and wear comfy sandals when going out.

[Calvert Hall '62]

Right foot started showing a bunion 15 years ago. I blamed it on jogging counterclockwise, i.e., all turns were left turns, on my jogging oval. I wondered if changing to clockwise, i.e., making only right turns would ease the impact on the right foot, but then feared that a left bunion would ensue.


So I stopped jogging altogether and voila, the right bunion never worsened. Happy ending to bunion issue. You have to eliminate what you think causes your misery with some sort of alternative.
_________


Of course cardio's important, so jogging was replaced with going up and down he hill repetitively. Descending a hill, however, places quite a gravitational load on aging joints and after a few years the right knee experienced frequent flare-ups. That knee was not on the best ground to begin with pursuant to a partial meniscectomy after tearing the right medial meniscus via use of a leg extension/curl machine years earlier.


So humping the hill had to be abandoned.
_________


Only thing left was low impact via stepper, elliptical, and Rebounder mini-trampoline beginning 1/17.


Today, no issues whatsoever with the lower stems. Knock on wood.
______


Now if only I could come up with a non-surgical solution to the ortho's recommendation for a total left shoulder replacement, and figure out why my right forearm feels as if it has broken glass inside it.

[jaminhealth]

CH: I have two injured almost frozen shoulders and had Prolotherapy injection session in right shoulder 10 yrs ago and ended up with 3 yrs of pain free shoulder. Something to consider, prolo providers are everywhere and more and more entering this field all the time.