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