A bunion is a large bump on your big toe. Bunions develop on the inside edge of your big toe joint — the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The MTP joint is where the base of your big toe meets your foot.
In mild cases, bunions typically do not cause pain. However, as the bump increases in size, it indicates a more severe misalignment of the big toe bone, which could potentially lead to pain. Regardless of the presence of pain, it can make your feet appear unattractive. If you've noticed that the outer edge of your big toe is protruding outward, it's best to take action to control it.
Can you fix bunion without surgery?
Only surgery can remove a bunion. While it may be disheartening to hear, the truth is that only surgery can remove a bunion. Orthotic devices and exercises cannot fundamentally solve the problem, but they can halt the development of the misalignment and alleviate pain.
What are the symptoms of a bunion?
The most obvious symptom of a bunion is a large bump. A bunion can cause other symptoms, including:
- Pain or stiffness in your big toe.
- Discoloration or redness.
- You might feel pain or a burning feeling when you bend your toe.
- Difficulty wearing certain types of shoes, or pain that gets worse when you’re wearing shoes.
- Corns or calluses (thickened skin).
- Numbness in or around your big toe.
How to treat a bunion without surgery?
For many patients, surgery is not the first choice. From a medical perspective, it is recommended to consider surgery only if nonsurgical bunion treatment options aren't working. As the recovery after surgery can vary from person to person, there is a risk of the toe becoming rigid. Here are some nonsurgical methods for treating bunions:
Bunion correctors
They come in the form of stiff splint, silicone toe separator, and elastic bandage, all designed to keep your big toe in the correct position. When using them, avoid fixing them too tightly or too loosely; comfort should be the standard. Unlike insoles, which can be comfortably worn inside shoes all day, you can wear these devices while sleeping.
Wearing the right shoes
Choose shoes that are loose, comfortable, breathable, and have good support. Avoid high heels, pointed shoes, or shoes that are too tight, to ensure that your toes can spread inside the shoes. Footwear that may help can be open-toed or wide around the toes. Shoe inserts, called orthotics, may also help improve the fit of the shoe.
Foot muscle relaxation
Using your fingers or a massage ball to soften the muscles and fascia in the spaces between each bone on the tops of the feet and entire sole can help prevent the bunion bump from growing larger.
Strengthening foot muscles
By engaging in appropriate exercises and stretches, you can strengthen and increase the flexibility of the foot muscles, which can help correct the misalignment of the big toe and alleviate the symptoms of bunions. You can start with these three exercises to reduce bunion pain:
- Short-foot exercise: Engage your foot arch and lift, trying to shorten your foot as much as possible. This movement may cause a slight sensation of cramping in the arch of your foot, which is normal. Gradually increase the intensity within the range that you can tolerate.
- Toe-spread-out exercise: Spread your toes while your heel and the front of the foot are on the floor. Press down on the floor with your little toe. Then, press down on the floor with your big toe.
- Heel-raise exercise: Raise your foot arch. Lift your heel off the floor. Keep pressure on your big toe.
Local therapy
Methods such as hot compress, cold compress, ultrashort waves, and infrared radiation therapy can promote blood circulation and reduce inflammation and pain. However, please note that during severe inflammation or the acute phase, avoid using hot compress as they may exacerbate symptoms.
Pharmacological treatment
Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as diclofenac sodium, indomethacin, etc.) or topical ointments (such as capsaicin, chili pepper, and pepper extracts, etc.) can help alleviate pain and inflammation. Please use these medications under the guidance of a doctor to avoid misuse.