What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery? (2025)

negot

Senior Veteran

What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery?

I have a fairly large bunion on my left foot and my toes are starting to be crowded. The bunion hurts only occasionally, so the pain itself is not a big issue for now. When I recently looked at my flip flops that I've been wearing all summer I noticed that the right one looks normal. On the right foot my bunion is very small. My left flip flop was very unevenly worn down. The left side of the heel was completely worn out which means that I walk in a way that is not even. I suspect that this has contributed to my large bunion on my left foot? Except to try to correct my walk (how do you do that?) is there something else you can do to make bunions smaller?
My chiropractor told me that there is another chiropractor, located somewhere in Orange County, CA who has had a lot of success treating bunions without surgery. Does this sound like something that is possible?
My sister had surgery on both her feet to remove bunions and as far as I know she is happy with the results.
This seems to run in our family because I remember my grandmother's feet where her toes were so crowded they were all on top of each other.

Titchou

Senior Veteran

Re: What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery?

Bunions can be genetic. Other than wearing orthotics to cushion it, there really isn't any way to "cure" one without surgery. The bone is not properly aligned and that's what is causing the bunion. It isn't a growth on the bone but rather misplacement of the bone itself. The only way to correct that is surgically.

cosmic1

Senior Member

Re: What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery?

Once one has a bunion that looks large.........
It is the underlying bone structure tht is changing.
One cannot correct the bone structure w/o surgery.
None of the devices between toes etc. are going to change the bones.
I guess one can get orthotics if it becomes a pain issue but it will not change the boney structure.

MsTammy

Senior Member

Re: What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery?

As for the uneven wear on your shoes, if the bunion is on your left foot and the outside (left) of your shoes is more worn down, you are definitely walking uneven. However, I doubt this has anything to do with the "reason" for your bunion. The uneven walking is because you're likely (but unintentionally/unknowingly) walking more on the outside of your foot BECAUSE of your bunion. For as long as I can remember, all of my shoes (both feet) were worn like that because I was walking on the outsides of my feet so that there wasn't as much pressure on the bunions. I didn't know this at the time. I only knew I walked totally crooked. After I recovered from the surgery on the right foot and started wearing new shoes, I realized that my right shoe was wearing completely evenly. The same with my left one now. So, my uneducated assumption is that I've been compensating for my bunions by walking on the outsides of my feet. Now that I've re-learned to walk, my gait and stride has been corrected and I walk evenly. Hopefully my shoes will last longer now, too!

negot

Senior Veteran

Re: What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery?

Thank you for your responses. That's interesting, that I walk unevenly because of the bunion on my left foot. I assumed that the way I walk caused the bunion to form. Why do people get bunions, anyway? I know it is partly hereditary, other women in my family have them. I am not thinking of surgery for now because the bunion is not causing me pain except when I wear tight shoes for a long time. My sister had such problems with her bunions that it became hard for her to find shoes to buy and the bunions also caused her pain. She had them removed a couple of years ago. I have heard though that bunions grow back. Is that true?

debbie g

Senior Veteran

Re: What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery?

i think a bunion can come back if you are wearing the wrong type of shoes. for example, very high heels and very pointy toe shoes. i dont think the just grow back, but i am not positive.

flaggfish

Junior Member

Re: What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery?

Being bunion OBSESSED I ask a lot of people if they have them or know anyone who does. I've probably talked to a dozen people who have had the surgery. Only one said the bunion was coming back. She's 2 years post surgery and where's very sensible shoes.

footsiedee

Senior Member

Re: What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery?

i will share what my surgeon said to my father (81yrs) when he accompanied me to see the doc post op. "if it doesnt bother you...leave it"...
i would just like to add, my second toe was climbing up over the big toe as they were pressing on each other. if you see this beginning to happen, get to the surgeon ASAP. i should have done it sooner, but had the surgery planned for june, then in may my toe started crossing over. in hindsight, next time i will move the surgery up as soon as that starts to happen, as it changes the second toe, and if left can damage muscles, tendons etc. he said it is not worth operating on my second toe though, as it will never be perfect like before, and the surgery could have other complications. the toe is ok, just not flat on floor like before and more of a curve to it. i searched online, and you can see pictures of what happens when people neglect to get treatment for bunions with the second toe crossing over. its not pretty.
the only 'preventative' thing you can do to help is NOT wear tight shoes. for about 8 yrs i wore runners that were too tight and kept thinking it was normal and that they would loosen up. now, i buy wider shoes. i was getting the wrong size before. good luck. Dee

footsiedee

Senior Member

Re: What can you do to lessen a bunion instead of having surgery?

P,S, wearing proper shoes doesnt garantee no bunion, it just lessens the odds you get them from tight shoes. there are other reasons, inherited, or a trauma to the foot.