Bunions

HCA UK’s foot and ankle specialists can accurately diagnose the severity of a bunion and suggest the best way to treat this foot condition. We offer:

• Foot consultant appointments available the next working day
• Appointments and imaging on the same day to minimise disruption to your schedule
• Quality care: 97% of orthopaedic patients rate our care as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’

What is a bunion?

A bunion is a deformity of the big toe. The tip of the big toe tilts towards the smaller toes and a bony lump appears on the inside of the foot and can rub on shoes and become swollen and inflamed. The first metatarsal bone twists and the two pea shaped bones beneath it, called the sesamoids, stop gliding normally which can also cause pain.

Bunions are often inherited and can affect both feet. The painful protrusions occur when the bones in your toes drift, and they can grow larger over time. The longer bunions are left untreated, the larger and more painful they can become. Although symptoms can be managed, the only truly effective way to treat bunions is through surgery. 

Open surgery requires the big toe being opened with long one incision and the bones being reshaped and broken. Keyhole surgery, a less invasive procedure, is performed by making five small incisions that is less traumatic to the tissue and muscle of the toe. Although not suitable for everyone, keyhole surgery can reduce recovery times with patients often able to walk without crutches the next day.

Do bunions just go away?

Bunions do not go away by themselves. If you have a particularly flat foot the shape can sometimes be improved by an orthotic or inner sole which can lift your arch up. There are physiotherapy exercises that could help strengthen some of the muscles in your foot which may ease the pain and pressure, though this won't change the overall structure of your foot (or alignment of the bones) or make bunions go away.

All bunion cases are best assessed by an orthopaedic consultant who specialises in foot and ankle conditions. Their treatment plan is often formed by using images such as X-rays or sometimes an MRI scan. At HCA UK we can offer a variety of treatments, including conservative options which don’t involve surgery, depending on the pain level and how your foot looks. Having an expert discuss your options with you can be very helpful.

Can you get rid of bunions without surgery?

A lot of bunions will not change without surgery. There are lots of pads, stretching devices and exercises advertised online, so if you do feel they would help you then it's worth looking at those options before considering surgery. However, with exercise, whilst it may relieve the pressure, it's impossible to change the architecture (shape) of the foot through exercise alone, and therefore surgery is the only definitive option.