Shoes that are narrow, tight, pointed or high-heeled can push the tip of your big toes toward and over your smaller toes, causing bunions.

Bunions are bulging, bony bumps at the base of your big toes. As the angle of your big toe worsens, the joint may become red, swollen and ache.

Pain can occur in the joint and under the ball of your foot. Smaller bunions can form on the outer part of your foot at the base of your fifth toe.

Other factors that contribute to bunions are arthritis, deformities at birth, inherited foot anatomy or injury.

Experiencing pain and not being able to wear stylish shoes or walk long distances lead people to seek care, usually with a podiatrist or orthopedic specialist.

The first line of treatment is nonsurgical:

Evaluate your shoe choices and select bunion-friendly options, such as shoes with a wider toe box that give your toes room to spread out and relieve the pressure on the bunion.

Ensure there’s a space between the tip of your big toe and the end of the shoe.

Take over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen or apply ice to relieve pain and swelling.

Try toe spacers that separate your toes and bunion guards that provide padding between the shoe and your aching joint.

Surgery is not typically recommended unless it’s giving you consistent pain that interferes with your daily activities.

The surgery may involve one or more procedures:

Joining the bones of your big toe joint permanently.

Realigning one or more bones in your forefoot to correct the abnormal angle of your big toe joint.

Removing swollen tissue from the big toe joint.

Straightening your big toe by removing part of the bone.

Each person’s bunion surgery is different and so is their recovery. You may be able to walk right after the procedure or you may need to avoid bearing weight on it while it heals. You may not be fully recovered for weeks or months.

After surgery, the best way to prevent a bunion from reforming is to wear properly fitted shoes that conform to the shape of your feet without squeezing or pressing on any part of your foot.