How to Get Rid of Bunions

Co-authored by Miguel Cunha, DPM

Last Updated: June 14, 2024 Fact Checked

A bunion is a bony lump that forms at the base joint in the big toe. Bunions form when tight or high-heeled shoes, an injury, or a person's inherited bone structure result in the big toe being pushed toward the other toes on the foot. Eventually, the big toe joint becomes enlarged and painful, and can lead to difficulties with exercising and walking. This article discusses lifestyle changes, home remedies, and medical interventions to get rid of bunions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Employing Natural Remedies

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1
Try foot exercises. Exercises can help slow or even halt the progression of your bunion, preventing the need to eventually get surgery.^{[1]
X
Research source} Try the following exercises every day, especially after removing your shoes:
- Stretch your big toe. Use your fingers to pull your big toe into proper alignment with the rest of your toes.
- Stretch the rest of your toes. Simply point them straight ahead for 10 seconds, then curl them under for 10 seconds. Repeat several times.
- Flex your toes. Press your toes against the floor or a wall until they are bent back. Hold them for 10 seconds, then release. Repeat several times.
- Grip with your toes. Practice picking up an article of clothing or a towel with your toes, dropping it, then picking it up again.
2
Wear low-heeled shoes of the appropriate width for your feet. Ask a consultant at the shoe store to measure the size of your feet. They can tell you what width is right for you to ensure your shoes fit properly. Then, select lower styles to avoid the pressure that causes bunions.
- Bunions are caused by a genetic abnormality in your foot where the first long bone shifts inward. However, this can be aggravated and accelerated by things like wearing tight shoes or heels.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Miguel Cunha, DPM
  Board Certified Podiatrist
  
  Expert Interview. 1 February 2020.}
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3
Wear a bunion pad or shoe inserts to realign toes. If you catch your bunion in the early stages, a bunion pad purchased at any pharmacy or drugstore may help to alleviate pain and direct your toe back to the proper direction. Shoe inserts may also help to realign your toes when you are wearing shoes.
- You can use either prefabricated inserts or a custom orthotic that's fit by a foot specialist.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Miguel Cunha, DPM
  Board Certified Podiatrist
  
  Expert Interview. 1 February 2020.}
- Also, consider using inserts to provide your shoes with adequate arch support. If your arch collapses, your bunion will get better over time.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Miguel Cunha, DPM
  Board Certified Podiatrist
  
  Expert Interview. 1 February 2020.}
Your toes may adapt to the normal position after being taped for a week or two. Ask your doctor if you need assistance with this process.
5
Relieve the pain. Exercising your feet and toes is well and good, but the intense pain bunions cause should also be addressed. Ease sore feet using the following methods:
- Soak your feet in warm water.^{[5]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  Harvard Medical School
  Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
  
  Go to source} Prepare a bowl with warm water and allow your feet to soak for twenty minutes. The warmth will sooth your joints and temporarily alleviate the pain.
- Try an ice pack. For particularly bad flare-ups, ice packs are a good choice. Fill a plastic bag with ice and wrap it in a thin towel. Apply the ice pack in twenty-minute increments several times a day.
- Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, to relieve the pain.
Try bunion splints to push your toes back into the proper alignment for greater comfort. You can buy these at your local shoe or orthotics store.^{[6]
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Cleveland Clinic
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For mild to moderate bunions, a flexible bunion splint such as "Bunion-Aid" has been scientifically proven to effectively correct Hallux valgus and relieve bunion pain.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Treating Severe Bunions

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If you are experiencing extreme pain that seems to be getting worse, or if your feet no longer fit in your shoes, consult a physician right away. It's possible to slow or halt the progression of bunions, but you can't actually cure them on your own.^{[7]
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Research source}
In some cases the doctor will advise you as to lifestyle changes and prescribe a medication for the pain. To prevent the bunion from getting worse, be sure to follow the doctor's advice.^{[8]
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3
Consider surgery. Talk to your doctor about surgery if your bunion pain is severe and symptoms do not improve with other therapies. The surgeon will surgeon shave the bone of your big toe and realign your big toe with the other toes. Bunion surgery is common and considered to be the only cure for bunions.^{[9]
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Johns Hopkins Medicine
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- There are several options for a bunionectomy surgery. Conduct research with your doctor to find out which option is best for you.
- Surgery usually helps bunions, but it doesn't guarantee that you will be completely free of pain, or that your toe will look perfectly straight.
- Follow up the surgery with proper lifestyle changes and exercises to prevent future pain and inflammation.
- Surgery has potential pitfalls, such as wound infection, recurrence of the bunion or decreased sensation in your big toe, so it's often considered a last resort.#*You can use either prefabricated inserts or a custom orthotic that's fit by a foot specialist.^{[10]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Miguel Cunha, DPM
  Board Certified Podiatrist
  
  Expert Interview. 1 February 2020.} Your doctor can discuss these potential complications with you, so you can make an informed decision.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Lifestyle Changes

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1
Go barefoot. Whether you inherited a propensity toward getting bunions from one of your parents or your bunions are the result of a lifetime of wearing shoes that are too tight, spending as much time as possible walking barefoot can prevent and even heal bunions. Walking barefoot strengthens the muscles in your feet and helps the bones realign in their natural position, rather than having to conform to the shape of your shoes.^{[11]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- However, if your bunions are advanced and very painful, walking barefoot can make them feel worse. If this is the case, only walk barefoot on thickly carpeted floors. Otherwise, wear padded socks when you're walking around the house and doing your daily activities.
- Wearing thick, comfortable slippers around the house is another option to help ease the pain of your bunions without subjecting your feet to the pressure of wearing shoes.
2
See if your shoes are making your bunions worse. You may think they are comfortable and good for your feet, but even tennis shoes and other athletic shoes could be making your bunions worse. Wear supportive shoes with good padding and arches. If you're in doubt about what type of shoe to buy, ask your doctor for advice.^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- Make sure that your shoes are the right size for you. Wearing shoes that are too small can make bunions a lot worse. When you're trying on shoes, your big toe should never touch the end of your shoe.
- To ensure you get the most comfortable fit, try on your shoes at the end of the day, when your feet are the most swollen. Also, use a brannock device to measure your feet each time you buy shoes, because your shoe size can change over time.^{[13]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Miguel Cunha, DPM
  Board Certified Podiatrist
  
  Expert Interview. 1 February 2020.}
- Don't wear high heels or pointy toes. They're pretty, but heels and stylish pointy-toed shoes are terrible for bunions. They lead to additional pain and prevent the bunion from healing. Wear less restrictive sandals whenever possible.
Ballet dancing, and other activities requiring constrictive shoes, may lead to bunions. If it isn't possible to do the activity in shoes that are healthier for your feet, avoid the activity altogether.^{[14]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What is a good bunion split and a good bunion corrector?

Miguel Cunha, DPM
Board Certified Podiatrist
Dr. Miguel Cunha is the founder of Gotham Footcare and is a podiatrist based in Manhattan, New York. Dr. Cunha is a foot and ankle surgeon with experience treating a wide array of foot and ankle conditions from minor problems to complex reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Cunha received his DPM from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and completed his residency as the Chief Resident at the Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University where he specialized in lower extremity trauma, diabetic limb salvage, and reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. Dr. Cunha is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, the New York Podiatric Medical Association, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and is board certified in Podiatric Medicine.

Miguel Cunha, DPM

Board Certified Podiatrist

Expert Answer

Bunion splints can help you feel a little more comfortable, but they're not as effective as orthotic inserts that help support your arch. If your arch collapses, which is called pronation, it's going to cause your bunion to get worse over time.

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Flexible Bunion Splints, such as "Bunion-Aid" realign the big toe while maintaining foot mobility. Bunion splints are also used in post bunion surgery to maintain the surgical fixation of the big toe and protect the raw tissue.

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Night splints, which are worn over the toes and feet at night, may prevent children from developing bad bunions by correcting bone growth. Since adults' feet are already fully formed, night splints are not effective for treating bunions in adults.

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Consider buying toe spacers from the drugstore to relieve pain and to slow down the process.

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