Bunions are bony lumps located on the joint at the base of your big toe. They appear on the outside edge of your foot, are quite common, and can be incredibly painful.
If you have bunions, you know they can make everyday activities uncomfortable, whether you’re walking or simply wearing shoes. And if you’re wondering if bunions can go away on their own, you aren’t alone.
Our team at Manhattan Orthopedics offers advanced podiatric care for people living in Astoria, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, New York. We specialize in diagnosing and treating bunions — and even though bunions typically don’t resolve without intervention, that doesn’t mean they can’t be treated.
Here’s what you can do about bothersome bunions.
How do you get bunions? They develop when the bones in the front part of your foot shift out of place. When the tip of your big toe gets pulled in toward your smaller toes, it forces the joint at the base of your big toe to stick out.
This bump becomes a bunion, and over time, the bunion can get larger and more painful. Anyone can develop bunions, and the two main causes are genetics and footwear choices.
Bunions often run in families. That means if your parents or grandparents had bunions, you might be more likely to develop them.
Your footwear choices also affect your chances of developing bunions. Wearing tight, narrow shoes pinches your toes together and can exacerbate bunion formation. High heels are a common culprit.
Other possible causes include repeated stress or injuries to your foot, along with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Bunions are structural deformities that involve changes to the bone, ligaments, and tendons in your foot. Unfortunately, those changes are often permanent.
Without medical or surgical intervention, these changes are unlikely to reverse themselves. And without proper care, bunions often worsen over time, leading to increased pain and deformity.
Bunions won't go away on their own, but there are several strategies to manage the symptoms — and taking a proactive approach helps prevent bunions from getting worse. Based on your situation, we may suggest:
Wearing shoes with a wide toe box, low heels, and good arch support can help alleviate pressure on your bunion and reduce pain.
Applying ice packs to the bunion can reduce swelling and relieve pain.
Customized exercises to strengthen the muscles around the joint and improve flexibility can minimize bunion pain and help you stay active in your day-to-day life.
Using bunion pads or taping your foot can help minimize irritation and pain. In more severe cases, we may prescribe custom-made orthotic shoe inserts to provide better support and foot alignment
Conservative bunion treatments provide substantial relief for many people. However, some people may continue to experience bunion pain, and surgical intervention may be necessary.
Bunion surgery involves removing the swollen tissue around your big toe joint and realigning the bones to correct the deformity. Although bunion surgery is a major procedure, it can be a permanent solution to severe bunion pain and significantly improve your quality of life.
If you have a bunion that's causing you discomfort, don’t try to manage it on your own. Our team is here to evaluate your bunion and recommend the most appropriate treatment options for your situation, so you can enjoy an active lifestyle with less pain.
Bunions don’t go away on their own, and finding effective treatment is the key to managing the symptoms and preventing them from getting worse. Learn more about your options with a personalized consultation at Manhattan Orthopedics. Contact the office nearest you, or schedule your appointment online.
