A bunion is a bony bump at the base of the big toe that forms as the joint slowly shifts out of place. Our podiatrists treat bunions with shoe changes, padding and custom orthotics, and offer bunion surgery, including minimally invasive bunion surgery, when pain doesn't improve.
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A bunion, or hallux valgus, is a bony bump on the side of the big toe joint. It forms as the big toe slowly angles toward the second toe. Bunions often run in families, and tight shoes can make them worse.
Bunions tend to get worse over time and can:
Knowing how a bunion forms makes it easier to spot the early signs.
Bunions develop slowly, so the early signs are easy to miss. Common symptoms include:
If any of these keep coming back or make everyday shoes uncomfortable, it's a good time to have your foot examined.
Schedule a ConsultationBunions don't go away on their own. Nonsurgical treatment can't reverse a bunion, but it can ease pain and help you stay active. Without treatment, a bunion can become more painful, limit your activity, change the way you walk and contribute to arthritis in the big toe joint. A severe bunion may also need a more involved surgery. That's why the first step is an exam to see how far yours has progressed.
Treatment depends on how severe your bunion is and how much it affects your daily life. Most people start with nonsurgical care.
These options ease pain and pressure on the joint, though they don't straighten the toe:
When nonsurgical care no longer relieves the pain and the bunion interferes with daily activities, it's time to discuss surgery. Bunion surgery is one of the foot and ankle surgeries we perform, including minimally invasive techniques.
Surgery aims to:
The right procedure depends on the severity of your bunion, your foot structure and your activity level.
Recovery depends on how severe the bunion is and which treatment you choose. With nonsurgical care, many people feel better once they change shoes and use orthotics or padding, though the bunion itself stays.
After bunion surgery, most people can walk in a surgical shoe or walking boot. Recovery often takes about six weeks, and more involved corrections can take several months before you're back in regular shoes. Your surgeon will explain what to expect for your procedure.
Our podiatrists treat bunions from the first sore spot through surgery, and our team includes board-certified foot and ankle surgeons. Meet our podiatrists to learn about each doctor's training and focus areas.
Appointments are available at our offices in Metairie, Covington and Prairieville, for patients across the New Orleans area and near Baton Rouge.
Bunion correctors, such as toe splints and separators, may ease pain while you wear them. Research doesn't show that they straighten the big toe or get rid of a bunion, because the joint itself has shifted. Surgery is the only treatment that corrects a bunion.
Most people can walk in a surgical shoe or walking boot after bunion surgery. Recovery often takes about six weeks, and more involved corrections can take several months. Your surgeon will explain the timeline for your procedure.
Not always, because bunions often run in families. Wearing shoes with a wide toe box and avoiding high heels and pointed shoes eases pressure on the joint and may help keep a bunion from getting worse.
Both can cause pain at the base of the big toe. A bunion develops slowly and forms a bony bump on the side of the joint. Gout usually comes on suddenly, often overnight, with intense pain, redness, warmth and swelling. Learn more about how we treat gout.
See a podiatrist if bunion pain keeps coming back, makes it hard to find shoes that fit, or limits walking or exercise. Numbness or burning near the joint is also worth checking. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, have any bunion, corn or sore on your foot examined rather than treating it at home.
Whether your bunion is new or has bothered you for years, a visit with one of our podiatrists will show you where it stands and which options fit your daily life.
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