Bunions make it difficult to find shoes that fit properly and don’t cause you more pain. A bunion develops on the joint of the big toe. This bony protrusion alters the normal shape of the foot, making the foot wider. Standard width shoes may not fit your feet properly if you have a bunion.
Often, people develop bunions because they have been wearing shoes that are too tight in the toe box. One of the most common causes of bunions is wearing high heels. High heels are typically quite narrow in the toe box. The toes are crowded into a small, narrow, unnatural shape. Any pointy-toed shoe can have this effect on the toes. It becomes an even bigger concern, though, when you add a high heel to the shoe. The height of the heel shifts the weight of the whole body onto the ball of the foot and the toes. Your toes aren’t made to handle that much pressure.
As a result, bunions can develop. Even if you have never worn high heels or pointy-toed shoes, you can still get bunions. Some people are just more likely to develop bunions due to genetic factors. Bunions can develop on any toe. However, if they are located on the small toe, they are known as bunionettes.
Bunions will not go away on their own. It is possible to have a bunion removed through surgery, but that still isn’t necessarily a permanent fix. Sometimes, bunions grow back in the same location after being surgically removed. The best way to cope with bunion pain is to wear the right shoes. If you have bunions, you need shoes that are sufficiently wide and deep so that they don’t press against your bunion.
Shoe Shopping When You Have Bunions
The time of day when you go shopping can have a significant impact on whether you get the best fit. As the day goes on, your feet tend to swell. If you buy shoes first thing in the morning, they may be too tight when you put them on later in the day after your feet have swollen. It is best to go shopping for shoes later in the day, when your feet will be more swollen. Always choose shoes to fit your feet when they are at their most swollen state. This way, your shoes won’t be cramping your feet when they swell up and you will get the best fit.
Look for shoes that have a wide and deep toe box. This gives you plenty of room to move your toes and prevents pressure on the toes and bunions. Even if you think that you know what size shoe you should be wearing, it’s a good idea to get your feet measured. Visit a specialized shoe store. The professionals there will measure your feet, and determine what size and width of shoe you should be wearing. You will be able to find a wide selection of sizes and comfort shoe brands at a specialized shoe store, like Foot Solutions.
Never buy shoes without trying them on. I know that shoe shopping isn’t fun when you have bunions. You just want shoes that don’t hurt. Don’t be tempted to grab a pair and take them home, though. Try on every pair, and walk around the store in them for a while. See how they feel. Make sure that they don’t rub against your bunions. If they are rubbing, then you need a shoe that is wider or deeper.
If you have bunions, come into Foot Solutions. We’ll help you find shoes that fit comfortably and relieve your bunion pain. We carry shoes with stretch leather technology, so that you don’t have to suffer the normal “breaking in” of hard leather shoes, which means you are comfortable from Day 1.
