Bunions
OVERVIEW
Bunions are painful bony bumps that develop over time on the inside of the foot at the base of the big toe. Unfortunately, they will not go away without surgery. Non-surgical treatments can sometimes help eliminate symptoms.
ANATOMY
The big toe consists of two joints: the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and the interphalangeal joint. The interphalangeal joint is located in the middle of the toe. The MTP joint is the largest of the two and is found where the first long bone of the foot (metatarsal) meets the first bone of the toe (phalanx).

DESCRIPTION
When the bones that make up the MTP joint fall out of alignment, the MTP joint gets larger, resulting in inflammation. Specifically, this occurs when the metatarsal bone shifts toward the outside of the foot while the phalanx angles toward the second toe. This inflammation is known as a bunion (hallux valgus). Several factors can increase the risk of getting a one. These factors include:
- Footwear. Wearing shoes that force the toes into an unnatural position.
- Health Condition. Having either an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, or a neuromuscular condition, such as polio.
- Hereditary. Can be developed hereditarily due to both foot shape and structure.

Bunions occur over time and are not an impact injury. Children are also at risk of developing them, but adults are most commonly affected. Ones that occurs in young people are called adolescent bunions.

SYMPTOMS
The symptoms may include:
- Visible bump on the inside of the foot with a callus or corn
- Pain and tenderness
- Redness
- Inflammation
- Hardened skin on bottom of foot
- Stiffness and restricted motion in the big toe
- Difficulty walking

DIAGNOSIS
Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will ask about your symptoms, general health, and medical history and examine your foot. An x-ray will also be ordered to check the alignment of your toes and check for damage to the MTP joint. Since the alignment of the foot changes when you stand or sit, the x-rays will be taken both while sitting and standing. These x-rays will help show your physician how severe your bunion is, and how best to correct it.
TREATMENT (OVERVIEW)
Unfortunately, they can only be removed surgically. But nonsurgical treatments can be used to help reduce symptoms. Surgery is only recommended if nonsurgical treatments are unsuccessful or if it is severe.
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS
Bunions are typically treated non-surgically. While it itself cannot go away without surgery, non-surgical treatments can help reduce pain while preventing it from getting worse. These treatments include:
- Ice applied several times a day for 20 minutes at a time can significantly reduce swelling.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) can help reduce pain and swelling.
- Changing footwear is highly recommended because shoes that do not fit correctly will squeeze your toes and cause pain. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will give you information on the proper footwear fit for you.
- Padding can help cushion the painful area of it, decreasing pain.
- Depending on the severity, over-the-counter or custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics), splints, or toe spacers may all be used to help ease pressure and reduce pain.
SURGICAL PROCEDURES/TREATMENTS
Surgery is only necessary if non-surgical treatments were unsuccessful or if the bunion is severe. There are several different bunions treatment surgical procedures used to correct them including bunionectomy. All procedures focus on realigning bone, ligaments, tendons, and nerves which will allow for the big toe to be brought back to its correct position.
In the cases of an adolescent bunion, surgery is not recommended because there is a strong chance it will return. Surgery may be recommended if it causes extreme pain that does not go away after nonsurgical treatments.
NEXT STEPS
After surgery, a surgical boot or cast will need to be worn to protect your foot. A brace will then need to be worn to support the foot during the healing processes. Surgery recovery takes approximately six to eight weeks, but a full recovery can take an average of four to six months.
If you are having foot problems and suspect that you have a bunion, schedule an appointment with a Florida Orthopaedic Institute fellowship-trained physician.
Areas of Focus
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Bunions
- Charcot Joint
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Hallux Rigidus Surgery - Cheilectomy
- Hammer Toe
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist?
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Turf Toe
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Bunions:
Specialties
- AC Joint Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Articular Cartilage Restoration
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Bone Cement Injection
- Bone Growth Stimulation
- Bone Health Clinic
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Clavicle Fractures
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Community Outreach
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy
- Discitis Treatment & Information
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Foraminotomy
- Fractured Fingers
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Groin Strains and Pulls
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus Surgery - Cheilectomy
- Hammer Toe
- Hamstring Injuries
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder
- Heat Injury/Heat Prostration
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Impingement Labral Tears
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hip Pointers and Trochanteric Bursitis
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliopsoas Tenotomy
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
- Interlaminar Implants
- Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion: ILIF
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Laminectomy: Decompression Surgery
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Little League Shoulder
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
- MACI
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Neurosurgery
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist?
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatry
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Subacromial Decompression
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- Turf Toe
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wound Care
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
Services
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Physical Therapy
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures)
- Same-Day Orthopaedic Appointments Now Available
- Sports Medicine
- Sports-Related Concussion Treatment
- Telehealth Page
- Telemedicine
- Workers' Compensation
- Workers' Compensation Dispensary
- X-Ray