Treating Bunions Without Surgery: Easier Than You Think
Do you suffer from bunion pain? Have you been told that surgery was your only option for relief? If so, then we may have some good news for you: a podiatrist in Portland believes gentler, simpler options may be available.
Dr. Ray McClanahan is a leader in "conservative foot care" treatments and believes that most foot ailments can be prevented and/or treated be restoring natural function (i.e., barefoot-like movement). He is also the inventor of Correct Toes—simple, over-the-counter toe spacers that may help treat a multitude of foot problems.
Bear in mind that Dr. McClanahan's reasearch, and what you are about to read, challenges beliefs held by most traditional podiatrists.
What is a Bunion?
Bunions are among the most common and most painful foot ailments out there. Also known by the medical name hallux abductovalgus, a bunion occurs when your big toe points toward your second toe, causing a bump or prominence to develop on the inside edge of your big toe and first metatarsal bone. Symptoms include redness in the affected area, bursitis, blistering and/or callus formation over the bunion and nerve damage that may include numbness and/or sharp pain. If left untreated, the pain can also spread to nearby joints. Bunions affect women far more often than men, and that may not be a coincidence, according to McClanahan.
Who has toes shaped like this?
What Causes Bunions?
While many factors may increase your chances of developing bunions, including arthritis, limb length inequalities and genetics, McClanahan believes conventional shoes that make women's feet look small and pointy may be the prime culprit. Fashionable women's shoes (and some men's shoes) tend to have tapered toe boxes, which push big toes inward. Raised heels and arch supports, also popular among conventional shoes, may also contribute to the development of bunions. Wearing these kinds of shoes for many years can lead to deformity in the feet, in which the big toe literally stays bent growing toward the second toe. When this happens, the point where the bunion occurs continues to protrude further. Think of it like a playground see-saw: when one end goes up, the other goes down. In the same way, when the upper bones of your big toe are pushed in, the lower bones are pushed out.
In cultures of people who routinely go barefoot, toes are usually the widest part of feet and bunions are extremely rare. In our western culture, however, the ball of the foot is commonly the widest point and bunions, located right at that spot, are quite common.
Treatment Options
A conventional treatment for a bunion is a bunionectomy, or surgery that removes part of the bulging metatarsal bone and forcibly realigns the joints. This surgery is often followed with prescriptions for orthotic arch supports and highly cushioned shoes that keep feet confined in unnatural positions. While this may result in some pain relief, proponents of natural foot movement argue that the surgery does not confront the source of the issue and may be an extreme solution when other, less invasive options may be available. It is worth noting that bunions can still return after surgery, especially if the conditions that caused them in the first place have not changed.
Natural Bunion Treatment
McClanahan practices an alternative way to treat bunion patients with less invasive measures, essentially by gently restoring the natural shape and function of the foot. It's really quite simple:
- With the use of bunion splints or toe spacers (such as Correct Toes—McClanahan's own invention) toes can be gradually restored to a more natural position, thereby undoing the motion that pushes the bunion out. In other words, as your toes spread out, the bunion starts to recede.
- Simple massage and range of motion exercises, like the one shown in the video below, can be very effective in relaxing and "retraining" foot muscles to move toes in their natural direction.
- Wearing footwear that encourages natural movement is strongly recommended to reverse, rather than encourage, the damage.
Remember to be patient with natural bunion treatment. It likely took decades for your bunion to develop and that change will not be reversed overnight. While some people may notice relief from pain right away, it could take weeks or even months to see the difference.
Bunion-Fighting Footwear
So what kind of shoes should you look for? McClahahan recommends finding shoes with the following features:
- Wide toe boxes that allow your feet to spread.
- Little or no arch support.
- Little or no elevated heels.
- Overall lightweight and flexible design.
Fortunately, many shoe manufacturers have begun making minimalist shoes that meet these criteria, including... [ahem]... Softstar Shoes! Every one of our shoes are designed to keep your feet as barefoot as possible with wide toe boxes and thin, flexible soles. We are proud to say we have a wide selection of fashionable women's shoes to keep your feet moving naturally... all made by hand in Oregon, USA:
- Adult Ballerine Flat $175.00
- Adult Solstice Sandal $130.00
- Adult Merry Jane $130.00
Who says stylish shoes have to hurt your feet?
Furthermore, Dr. McClanahan himself helped us test and develop our Primal sole shape. Shoes made with this sole shape, such as our Primal RunAmoc and Primal Sawyer, feature an extra-wide toe box to allow a natural and healthy toe splay:
- Adult PRIMAL RunAmoc $185.00
- Adult Primal Sawyer $145.00
- Adult Merino Zen Moccasin $130.00
Shoes featuring Primal sole shapes.
We hear from many happy customers who have worn our shoes to help reverse bunion pain and find relief. Please remember that we are shoemakers, not doctors, so we can't make any medical claims about our footwear and we don't prescribe our shoes for any treatment routine—nor do we guarantee any results. That being said, we have heard several customer success stories and we hope you'll consider this natural method if you're trying to recover from bunion pain.
The earlier a bunion is treated, the more likely it can be relieved. McClanahan also warns that the longer feet are deformed by tapered shoes, the less effective treatment will be. In severe cases, surgery may end up being the only option. It is worth noting, however, that many traditional podiatrists shun the idea of treating and curing foot pain by restoring natural movement simply because these methods are relatively new and challenge traditional thinking. Some podiatrists who now support this newer view have told us they were taught in school to only treat bunions with surgery and, after decades of reinforcing this idea, simply found it inconceivable to accept other possibilities. If you are interested in seeking alternative treatment or getting another opinion based on natural foot function, then you may have to do your work finding a podiatrist who supports this view.
For more information about Dr. Ray McClanahan and his practice, visit the Northwest Foot and Ankle Website. We also recommend these articles:
- "The Hereditary Bunion Myth" by Dr. Ray McClanahan
- "Bunions and Hammertoes" by Dr. Ray McClanahan
- "Bunion Causes and Symptoms" by Dr. Ray McClahahan
Watch this video to see Dr. McClanahan explain bunion causes and treatment options in more detail:
Disclaimer: we are excited to share the information above, which conveys the research done by Dr. McClanahan at NW Foot and Ankle. This article reflects the stories we've heard from many customers who have successfully treated bunions without sugery and also supports our philosophy of minimal shoe design that encourages natural foot function, but please keep in mind that we are shoemakers and not doctors. As such, we cannot answer questions about an individual's foot pain or prescribe medical advice. We recommend contacting NW Foot and Ankle directly regarding any medical inquiries.
Martin is a lifelong runner who began wearing minimalist shoes over 10 years ago when he found they alleviated his chronic foot pain, which eventually disappeared completely. He further studied proper running form through a series of workshops taught by Correct Toes inventor, Dr. Ray McClanahan DPM. Martin has collaborated with several health care professionals to collect and share peer-reviewed studies that show the benefits of minimalist footwear. In his personal life, Martin loves living in the Pacific Northwest because it allows him to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities year-round, including hiking, cycling, rock climbing, surfing and snowboarding.
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I have bought the softstar black leather shoes. I want to come speak to a softstar rep or a doctor like mclanahan to address what shoe type is best for my feet and bunion. Do you have anybody in California or is there anybody you can refer me to? Thank yoi
Question, is the dislocation permanent? I know you can stretch those muscles, but can you completely reverse the dislocation?
Therefore, wide shoes are not always good. I'm pointing this out because many of your customers might need a longer shoe because of long toes. This means the shoe will be bigger, but the foot comparitively shallow, in that the arch will be set further back in the shoe.
The problem is much more pronounced with a court shoe, which doesn't have ties or another way of holding the shoe correctly in place and stopping the dangerous forward movement which results in hitting the the big toe on the end of the shoe. If there's nothing to stop that, this trauma will happen to the joint, causing swelling and discomfort and the ungainly angle of the toe. Then there is less capacity for movement.
I urge you to consider that the problem is more complex than just tapering shoes. While the narrowness of my feet is unusual, I've noticed the long fingers and toes issue, or shallow feet issue is very common. It's very important to be supported by the shoe. I often see people wearing shoes with a gap at the back, and they're pushing forward into the shoe. Another reason people develop a bunion on one side or the other is that most feet aren't the same length. If you have one foot pushing to the end of the shoe and hitting the end, or one foot being squashed by the shoe not being long enough, you have variations on the theme. Each are causes.
After talking with an older friend who had the surgery and having had consultation with a podiatrist, I noticed that a key point was how strongly the first toe was pressing down into the ground. This affects functionality of the foot.
So I did the logical thing and started stretching leaning on my foot with my weight, and bending onto my toes lifting my heel up, and forcing my big toe back into position....gently! In a stretching and pushing down movement. This has been remarkably successful.
I also have a shallow foot and weak arches, so I have started another form of exercising my feet every night before bed to strengthen my arches. Apparently with age, people's arches often get weaker and they go up a shoe size. I wasn't going to let that happen to me! My feet are long enough with the long toes...
Gripping a bead about 3/4 of an inch large with my toes. Picking the bead up, holding it and dropping it to the ground. Repeat.
This has successfully strengthened my arches and changed the way my foot works and even my posture. My weight is now more evenly distributed. This more even distribution means callouses are not forming on my underfoot like they used to. I've got some side mini bunions and callouses there, but not on the main part of the underfoot. This also means my foot looks better visually.
I am heartened by your site, which shows my approach has been sensible! I have been able to get results, and now I'm going to perservere...and do that more energetically.
One problem with bunions is they then become painful if shoes are too tight...If I wear wider shoes then my feet pressed forward, exacerbating the situation. Therefore I wear tie up shoes, or shoes with a cross strap or some other way of keeping those shallow feet to the back of the shoe and NOT pressing forward. The dilemma for me is the lack of narrow fitting shoes.
Court shoes are badly designed and to be avoided.
Another problem is with age the natural padding on the sole of the feet becomes compressed. I fixed that by using a flat Chinese device which has wooden rollers, with little soft plastic spikes on it. The soft spikes stimulate the circulation, as you roll your foot over it. At the same time I took a supplement to stimulate collagen production. I also wore insoles to help soften any pressure. This also seems to have worked. Previously I was getting burning sensations in my underfoot and sharp pain. Hoping this might help someone, and also the foot specialists will carefully consider my points.
A lot of foot issues are commonsense. Look at what the shoes are doing to your feet, and how your foot moves in the shoe, where the shoe is pressing. I like the shoes in here but I'm not sure that the ballet ones aren't too wide. I live in Australia so it won't be fun if I order some and then have to return them....
When I was pregnant 2 years ago, I gained about 80 pounds, including baby, and my feet couldn't take it anymore. I _had_ to add an arch support and cushion at the ball of my foot. I've since lost all of the baby weight, but now I'm switching to shoes with arch supports and sole cushioning to see how that goes. My mother has the same foot problems that I do, and she refuses to go without arch supports. In fact, she even has some she can strap onto her feet so she can go "barefoot" with support.
I know that I can barely walk barefoot without pain on that second metatarsal and feeling like I'm trying to balance on ice-skates. I have to wear slippers at home, with arch supports.
I've had bunions since I was a child - I always remember my toes overlapping. The one on my right foot went away on its own (and my toe straightened) sometime in my early to mid 20s. However, the one on my left foot persists. I do know I put more weight onto my left foot.
Anyhow, in my case I think there's a genetic component. I know there isn't always, but for some of us there is. And, unfortunately, minimalist shoes didn't work for me. With my metatarsalgia, the pain and callous beneath my second metatarsal got worse with barefoot shoes. It's too bad, because otherwise those shoes were so comfortable - like wearing slippers all day long.
I wish more manufacturers would make stylish, healthy shoes, especially for women. Flat, no pointy toe, and plenty of room in the toe-box. Arch supports and padding simply need to be options for some of us.
When it comes time to buy new shoes, I always have to go hunting and hunting, and eventually settle on a style I can sort of stand, because function and comfort is ultimately more important if I want to avoid foot pain. I hate it when my shoes wear out, because then I have to go on the hunt again.
So, in this case, you need some sort of an insert to correct the problem. If you over-pronate, they have these inserts that have a wedge from the inner edge of the shoe, under the first metatarsal and big toe, and ending by the second metatarsal. It's supposed to help your weight be better distributed. They helped me a little, but not enough - I still ended up with pain, callus, and inflammation at that second metatarsal end.
The other option, and what it seems I need, is an arch support. That's because the arch support literally stops the foot from being able to over-pronate.
I also just read the comment above mine, and I wanted to say that I have long toes (and fingers, and arms, and legs) too (all of them, but especially my second toe due to Morton's Toe). I'm not sure I have the same problem with my toes hitting the end of my shoes consistently (but it's happened with some shoes), but I do have the same problem where built in arch supports often feel too far forward. I have to find shoes with long toe boxes (but I also like the toe box wide, so my toes can splay out naturally, and there's no bunion pressure) and size down half a size from what my foot measures at, and then the arch support hits in the right spot. Then I also have the added complication that my midfoot is pretty narrow, so even though I have high arches, I really have to cinch up the laces or straps of my shoes up at the top there.
Shoe-hunting ... such a pain! I really wish more manufacturers would get into the specialty market and make lines of shoes that were stylish but you could "dial in" exactly what you need... width, length, toe box, insole style, etc. And then to have the fit be consistent across their entire line, so you can just know, "I can buy always Brand X's shoes with this width, this size, this toe box, and this insole (or no insole so your custom orthotics can go in), and then I can just pick out the style I _like_ and be done with it, no more worries!"
Oh to dream..... "Brand X" might just do very good for themselves......