Ask The Experts

I have a bunion on my left foot and it really hurts while I'm at work. I was wondering if surgery is the best thing for it.

Thank you for contacting IPFH. We do not diagnose conditions or provide medical advice on line. In your case the best course of action would be to see a foot care professional. He or she can examine you and help determine the best treatment for your bunion. If you need a referral, your primary care physician could provide that for you. In general, surgery should be an option only if other less-invasive treatments and procedures have been tried and have not been successful. This is the case with bunions. They are quite common, and can often be treated with non-surgical interventions.The simplest way to prevent bunions is to choose shoes with sufficient width and depth in the toe box so that your toes are not pushed inward. Heels should be as flat as possible and not elevated, to help avoid additional pressure and stress in the forefoot. Cushioned inserts that allow the toes to spread in the forefoot are often effective. In addition, they can provide arch support that helps reduce stress on the feet, and addresses excessive overpronation, which can help prevent bunions. Other orthotics can help control abnormal foot movement and reduce the probability of bunion formation. You can learn more at our foot conditions page on bunions. We hope you will consult a foot health professional and that you will soon be following an effective treatment regimen for your condition. We wish you the best.

Not what you were looking for? Submit a question or Search Again

Was this helpful?