What to do if you get bunions

What are bunions and how do you get rid of them?

Bunions are bony lumps that form at the base of the big toe. These develop when one wears narrow and hard shoes often, and tend to stand or walk for long periods of time.

But according to Dr. Ai Gamboa , a foot and ankle orthopedic specialist, it is also hereditary.

"88 percent of the time it is an intrinsic factor....it is actually hereditary. You have to look at your mother, your father, your aunts, your uncles or any of your family relatives from before, even grandparents. They will likely have had a hallux valgus deformity," she said in an episode of Pinoy MD.

In worse cases, the only solution for bunions is surgery.

Gamboa said most of the time, people opt for surgery mainly for aesthetic purposes.

But there are also cases that the condition is so severe that it causes pain to the rest of the toes.

Fortunately, there are simple ways to ease the pain and prevent bunions from worsening.

One way is the use toe spacers when at home. These help in keeping toes in the right position.

You can also do the pencil pick up exercise — as the name suggests, you pick a pencil from the floor using your toes. This stretches joints and bones in the feet and prevents them from staying in one position.

And lastly, wear comfortable shoes!

To avoid pain in your feet, it's best to opt for shoes that allows your feet and toes space to move.

—JCB, GMA News