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Bunions usually aren't serious. But they can hurt a lot and stop you from doing things you enjoy.

If you have a bunion, the two bones in the joint of your big toe have moved out of line with each other. This makes your big toe joint stick out. The bony bump you can see and feel is the bunion.

The bones in your toe joint won't move back on their own. And bunions usually get worse if you don't treat them. But it's hard to say how bad your bunion will get and how quickly because there hasn't been a lot of research on this.

Some people get bad bunions that hurt a lot right away. This is more likely if your bunion is caused by more than one problem. For example, it could happen if you have rheumatoid arthritis and you injured your toe and the arch of your foot is low.¹ But other people don't get any symptoms from their bunions at all.

You often start with a bunion on just one foot.² But you usually end up with bunions on both feet.

One study showed that after a year, the symptoms of bunions weren't as bad for:³

• About 8 in 10 people who had surgery for bunions
• Less than half of people who used insoles you put in your shoes
• A quarter of people who didn't have any treatment.

The people in the study said that their foot hurt less and they could walk more easily than they could a year before.

If you don't treat bunions, they usually get bigger and hurt more. You can try treatments that don't involve surgery first. But they may not work as well as surgery. The only way to get rid of your bunion is to have an operation to make the bones in your big toe joint line up again.

If you wait too long, your smaller toes can get out of line too. Then you could end up needing a bigger operation that might not work so well. Talk with your doctor about which treatment is best for you now.

There are some simple things you can try to stop your bunions from getting worse and make them hurt less. To learn more, see What can you do for your bunions?

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.