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Bunions are bony lumps that form on the side of the feet. Surgery is the only way to get rid of them, but there are things you can do to ease any pain they cause.
The main symptoms of bunions are hard lumps on the sides of your feet, by your big toes.
Your big toe may point towards your other toes.
You may have hard or swollen skin. The bunion may look red or darker than the skin around it.
You may also have pain along the side or bottom of your feet. This is usually worse when wearing shoes and walking.
| Foot symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
|
Foot symptoms
Red, hot, swollen skin over the affected joint that comes and goes |
Possible cause |
|
Foot symptoms
Aching, swollen and stiff joints that are usually worse in the morning |
Possible cause |
|
Foot symptoms
Pain, bruising and swelling after hurting your toe |
Possible cause |
You cannot get rid of bunions or stop them getting worse yourself, but there are things you can do to ease any pain.
wear wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole
hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel to the bunion for up to 5 minutes at a time
try bunion pads (soft pads you put in shoes to stop them rubbing on a bunion) – you can buy these from pharmacies
take paracetamol or ibuprofen
try to lose weight if you're overweight
do not wear high heels or tight, pointy shoes
If you have bunions, a GP will look at your foot and ask you about your symptoms.
They might refer you to a foot specialist (podiatrist).
A GP or podiatrist can advise you about:
You can also pay to see a foot specialist privately.
A GP may refer you for surgery if your bunions are very painful or they're having a big effect on your life.
Surgery is not done just to improve how your feet look.
The most common surgery for bunions is an osteotomy.
This involves:
Surgery is usually done when you're asleep under general anaesthetic.
Most people go home the same day.
It can take a while to recover from bunion surgery.
You'll usually need to:
After the operation:
Bunions sometimes come back after surgery.
If you have bunions, you might be able to refer yourself directly to a podiatrist without seeing a GP.
To find out if there are any services in your area:
The cause of bunions is not always known, but you may be more likely to get them if you wear shoes that do not fit properly.
It might help to:
