A bunion is a painful swelling or bump at the base of the big toe. It develops over time. As the big toe bends toward the other toes, it causes the bump to push out farther.

Wearing tight, narrow, and poor-fitting shoes increases the risk of getting a bunion. Arthritis may make you more likely to develop bunions. Around 23% of adults in the U.S. have bunions, and they are more common in women and older adults.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to slow or stop bunions from getting worse and to help ease any discomfort they cause. Doctors often recommend a range of approaches including supportive shoes, bunion pads, shoe inserts, ice packs, and pain medications.

Bunion pads cushion the bunion to prevent irritation from rubbing against the shoe. Placing shoe inserts in wide, flat shoes can help improve the mechanics of foot motion and decrease the amount of force on the big toe.

If your bunion causes severe pain that does not improve with these treatments or it significantly limits your activities, surgery may be suggested. The recovery time from bunion surgery can be lengthy, and you may need to continue wearing more supportive shoes even after surgery.

There are some over the counter treatment that might help:

Dr. Scholl's Bunion Cushions: Provides all-day pain relief by cushioning and protecting bunions from shoe friction.
ZenToes Gel Bunion Guards: Soft gel pads that fit over the bunion to alleviate pressure and provide cushioning
Bunion Corrector and Bunion Relief Sleeve Kit: Includes bunion correctors and sleeves to help align the big toe and reduce pain.

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The stories shared below are not written by Buoy employees. Buoy does not endorse any of the information in these stories. Whenever you have questions or concerns about a medical condition, you should always contact your doctor or a healthcare provider.

Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, MPH.

Associate Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Dr. Rothschild has been a faculty member at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He currently practices as a hospitalist at Newton Wellesley Hospital. In 1978, Dr. Rothschild received his MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin and trained in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in critical care medicine. He also received an MP...

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