Recovery & Support for Bunions

Bunions can be a chronic condition, which means they may never go away completely. Even if you’ve had surgery, bunions can return, especially if you wear tight or pointy shoes.

Proper foot care is an important part of long-term care and recovery from surgery. NYU Langone orthopedic surgeons and podiatrists provide ongoing care to people with bunions, ensuring that they can walk with ease and participate in everyday activities without pain.

Comfortable Shoes

The best way to prevent bunions from occurring is also the best way to prevent them from getting worse or returning after surgery: Avoid tight or pointy shoes. Doctors recommend shoes that have wide, roomy toe boxes that leave half an inch of space between your big toe and the tip of the shoe.

The size of your foot can change as you age. Doctors recommend having your feet measured regularly to ensure that your shoes fit properly.

Foot Care

Doctors recommend resting your feet as often as possible, especially if your job requires standing for long periods of time. Our specialists also recommend cleaning and examining your feet every day to determine if a bunion has changed in size or is becoming more painful. If this occurs, our doctors can adjust treatment to help you remain comfortable while walking.

If you have a medical condition that is associated with decreased nerve sensation in the feet, such as diabetes, our doctors recommend taking special care to inspect your feet every day. It’s important to ensure that no cuts or blisters have developed due to friction between the bunion and your shoe.

If a bunion forms and rubs repeatedly against tight shoes, blisters may develop that can turn into open wounds. Because diabetes and other conditions reduce the ability to feel pain, a wound on the foot may go unnoticed and become infected. Without treatment, an infected wound poses a significant risk of further health problems in the foot.

Pain Management

Bunions can be painful. Whether you are recovering from surgery or pursuing nonsurgical treatment, your doctor may recommend medication to provide pain relief and make walking easier.

Most of the time, over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication works well to ease pain. If you experience significant discomfort for longer than one month, your doctor may recommend other options, such as a stronger anti-inflammatory medication.