How to Treat Bunions With Massage

Both your heredity and wearing narrow shoes can cause painful bunions. These painful knots that develop at the joint swell and in extreme cases can cause the big toe to overlap the next toe. Surgical removal is often necessary and wearing high heels or any narrow shoes would be too uncomfortable. Both self massage and deep tissue massage is an alternative treatment to avoid surgery or pain.

Instructions

• 1

  Stop wearing any shoes that don't give plenty of room for the toes and top of the foot. No massage of any kind will be effective without taking away the cause of the problem. After a certain length of time you may be able to wear your high heels again for special events. For now, give a chance for the swelling to go down.

• 2

  Make an appointment with a massage professional that specializes in deep-friction massage treatment. This can decrease the soft-tissue accumulation that makes bunions hurt. More importantly, it reduces the inflammation and increased the blood circulation in the foot. Elevating the foot after a session will prolong the effect of the massage.

• 3

  Massage your foot and leg at home with some massage or castor oil. Start with your ankle and move your thumbs in a circular motion moving upward to just below the knee. Spend about a minute on each area. Push hard so it's slightly uncomfortable but not so hard that it hurts.

• 4

  Repeat daily or weekly, until you feel pain relief from the deep tissue massage and the daily self-massage.