A bunion is a bony lump on the side of your foot at the base of your big toe (see figure 1).

The most common cause of bunions is footwear that does not have enough width to fit your toes in their natural position. They are sometimes associated with arthritis of the joint at the base of your big toe.

Putting padding over the bunion or a spacer between your big toe and second toe can help.

Using wide-fitting shoes from a good-quality shoe shop may be enough. If not, the orthotics (surgical appliances) department at the hospital will be able to give you advice about special shoes.

How Soon Will I Recover?

You should be able to go home the same day or the day after.

Spend most of the time during the first week with your leg raised so that the swelling settles.

Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.

It can take six weeks or longer before the swelling has gone down enough for you to wear a normal soft shoe.