Bunions
Bunions
Bunions are bony lumps that form on the side of the feet. Surgery is the only way to get rid of them, but there are things you can do to ease any pain they cause.
How to ease bunion pain yourself
You cannot get rid of bunions or stop them from getting worse yourself, but there are things you can do to ease any pain.
- wear wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole
- hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel to the bunion for up to 5 minutes at a time
- try bunion pads (soft pads you put in shoes to stop them rubbing on a bunion) – you can buy these from pharmacies
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain
- try to lose weight if you're overweight
How to prevent bunions
The cause of bunions is not always known, but you may be more likely to get them if you wear shoes that do not fit properly.
It might help to:
- make sure your shoes are the correct size and have enough room for your toes
- avoid shoes with high heels or pointy toes