Nonsurgical Treatments for Bunions
Not all bunions require surgery. In many cases, conservative care can reduce pain and slow progression.
These options include:
- Wearing wider shoes with a roomy toe box to reduce pressure
- Custom orthotics to improve foot mechanics and offload the bunion
- Padding or taping the toe to ease discomfort and prevent friction
- Toe spacers or splints to realign the toe (helpful in mild cases)
- Anti-inflammatory medication or icing for pain and swelling
- Activity modification to reduce stress on the big toe joint
Surgical Treatment for Bunions
If conservative methods fail and pain interferes with daily life, surgery may be recommended. Procedures vary depending on bunion severity but may include:
- Osteotomy: The bone is cut in order to correct the position of the toe, then fixed into position with a plate and/or screws. You should still be able to move your big toe with this procedure.
Minimally invasive bunion correction: Uses small incisions to realign the bone and straighten the toe then fixed into position with screws. You should still be able to move your big toe with this procedure.
- Arthrodesis: Bones are fused at the affected joint and held straight with plate and screws, which will eliminate movement but also discomfort. This is typically preferred when severe arthritis is present.
- Lapidus procedure: Fusing the joint at the base of the first metatarsal to correct instability. You should still be able to move your big toe with this procedure alone.
Recovery times differ depending on the procedure but often include wearing a surgical shoe, limiting weight-bearing and participating in physical therapy.
