Foot Health Bunions The Best Methods for Treating Your Bunion Pain By Neal Blitz, DPM, FACFAS Neal Blitz, DPM, FACFAS Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Neal Blitz, DPM, FACFAS, is a board-certified doctor of podiatric medicine and creator of the Bunionplasty procedure. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 27, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD Medically reviewed by Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD LinkedIn Isaac O. Opole, MD, PhD, is a board-certified internist specializing in geriatric medicine. For over 15 years, he's practiced at the Kansas University Medical Center, where he is also a professor. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print A bunion is a bony prominence at the inside of the big toe, which is the result of a structural malalignment of the big toe joint. In addition to a lump, the bunion causes the big toe to point inward and overlap with the toe next to it. Bunions may be considered unsightly by some people, but the real concern is that they can be painful or become painful over time. bgwalker / Getty Images Physical symptoms of bunions can include: Restricted, painful motion of the big toeRedness over the boney prominenceSwellingCalluses (hardened skin) Impaired balanceAltered gait (manner of walking) When you have a bunion, it can be hard to find shoes that fit right. Bunion pain can significantly impact your ability to do even simple activities. While bunion surgery is an option, you have many less invasive treatments to try first. Some treatments are aimed at alleviating the symptoms, whereas others are focused on getting rid of the bunion. Foot Exercises Foot and ankle exercises can help correct a muscle imbalance around the joint, which may be either a result of the bunion or contribute to the cause of it. Your healthcare provider may recommend physical therapy or give you exercises to do at home. Bunion exercises are broken down into two types: Muscle-strengthening to get and keep the joint in alignmentRange-of-motion to keep the joint supple and mobile Examples of foot exercises include curling the toes, spreading the toes, and heel raises. Pain Medication When bunions become painful, oral or injected pain medications may alleviate your pain and lessen inflammation. Oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) may be useful when the bunions are associated with pain, swelling, or redness. Injection of corticosteroid medications is another option. Research shows that it can be effective against bunion pain. Bunion Pads and Splints Bunion pads and splints are readily available devices that are placed on the foot to treat the symptoms of bunions or address the structural malalignment. Bunion pads provide a layer of cushion for the bunion against the shoe to lessen or remove pressure and irritation. They can work well for relieving pain as long as they're not too thick, which can increase the pressure. Bunion splints, on the other hand, are intended to actively push the big toe into better alignment. However, a review of studies on bunion treatment found that splints were ineffective both at relieving pain and realigning the joint. Foot Orthotics Shoe inserts are another method to help treat bunions by providing structural support to the foot, which may improve foot alignment and ultimately limit bunion progression. Bunion-specific orthotics aren't available, but healthcare providers can create prescription orthotics that address your foot type. Research shows orthotics can be somewhat effective, but, on their own, are generally inadequate and should be combined with other treatments. Bunion Surgery The only method to truly correct a bunion is bunion surgery, which structurally re-aligns the displaced bones. The procedure most often involves either: A bunion cut to realign the top (Austin or chevron bunionectomy) or bottom portion of the bone, orRepositioning the entire bone through a bone mending/fusion procedure at the bottom of the deviated bone (lapidus bunionectomy) Depending on your type of surgery, you may need to wear dressings or a brace for six to twelve weeks after the procedure. Some surgeries allow for immediate weight-bearing afterward, while with others, you may need to use crutches.Be sure to ask any questions you may have to ensure you understand and are able to follow your healthcare provider's instructions about the recovery process. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Tamer P, Simpson S. Evolutionarily medicine Why do humans get bunions? [published correction appears in Evol Med Public Health. 2017(1):81]. Evol Med Public Health. 2017(1):48–49. doi:10.1093/emph/eox001 American Podiatric Medical Association. Bunions: What is a bunion? Mortka K, Lisiński P. Hallux valgus-a case for a physiotherapist or only for a surgeon? Literature review. J Phys Ther Sci. 27(10):3303–3307. doi:10.1589/jpts.27.3303 Glasoe WM. 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