A bunion on foot (hallux valgus) can cause pain on the side of your foot. These 10 bunion cures will help ease foot pain and show you how to get rid of bunions. I researched these cures because my foot bunion is so painful and I’m only 44 years old!

One of the easiest bunion cures to try is the Bunion Aid Hinged Splint for Bunions. It’s for mild to moderate bunions, and enables your toes and feet to move naturally while keeping the alignment. Keeping your toes aligned is crucial, because it stops your foot from getting out of joint. This also helps stop the pain on side of a foot.

These 10 tips on how to get rid of a foot bunion will stop the growth of bunions on your feet, help stop pain on the side of your foot, and ensure you can walk without hobbling. There are no miracle cures for bunions, but you can at least prevent hallux valgus from overtaking your life.

What is a Bunion?

A bunion – hallux valgus – is a common foot condition that occurs when the big toe bends in towards the smaller toes. Foot bunions develop over time, and are accompanied by a painful soft tissue and boney protrusion (this is the actual bunion, which causes pain on the side of your foot). As the ugly bunion grows, the big toe (hallux) interferes with the normal alignment of the rest of your toes.

Bunions can lead to other foot problems and worse pain on the side of your foot, such as hammer toes or claw toes, unnatural patterns of walking, and the development of corns and calluses. That’s why bunion cures are so important, as well as these tips on how to get rid of bunions.

Causes of Bunions on Feet

Family history (genetics), wearing high heeled shoes or shoes that are too narrow, and flat footedness can all contribute to the development of bunions or hallux valgus.

Women and older adults are more likely to get a foot bunion than younger people or men, perhaps because of the shoes women wear. This doesn’t fit me, though, because I never wear high heels! I’m not sure what caused the bunion on my foot, but it is a pain.

A bunion causing pain on the side of a foot isn’t related to fitness level, education, age, or other health issues. Unfortunately, foot bunions can negatively affect general health, vitality, social function, and mental health. You don’t need research or a doctor to tell you that the pain and growth of foot bunions reduces the quality of your life, ability to exercise, and even how well you sleep. That’s why we’re talking about bunion cures next…

10 Ways to Get Rid of Bunions

The first two cures for foot bunions are the most effective ways to relieve bunion pain for me. What works for your bunions depends on your feet, how long you’ve had bunions, etc. The best way to find an effective remedy for bunions is to keep trying different treatments until the pain on the side of your foot pain is gone.

1. Acupuncture for bunions and foot pain

I wrote Acupuncture for Snoring – A Natural Remedy for Good Sleep before I actually tried acupuncture for pain on the side of my foot. Now that I’ve gone for two acupuncture treatments for my bunion, I am a firm believer in acupuncture as one of the best bunion cures! While acupuncture isn’t a way to get rid of bunions forever, it can ease foot pain. If you haven’t tried acupuncture for hallux valgus, I encourage you to invest in at least two sessions with at least two acupuncturists. The first acupuncturist I tried didn’t do anything to relieve the pain on the side of my foot, but the second acupuncturist cleared it up immediately and for a long time.

2. Warm foot baths with Epsom salts for bunion pain

I now have a hot bath with Epsom salts almost every night, and it has helped relieve the pain on the side of my foot. I am 100% sure acupuncture for bunions was a more effective treatment, but the hot baths help. Soaking in a warm bath is one of the most pleasant bunion cures – especially with Epsoak Epsom Salts, because they reduce inflammation.

3. Ice pack for bunions

My massage therapist suggested immersing my foot in an ice bath for a couple minutes at a time. Some people find icy cold water helps relieve hallux valgus pain, but I can’t bring myself to immerse any part of my body in ice water! An ice pack is a better way to relieve bunion pain.

If you’re as averse to foot ice baths as a bunion cure as I am, try the Cold Pack – ColPaC Brand. Ice or cold packs are a gentler way to ice up your foot and relieve painful bunions.

4. Pain relievers for “bunion on foot” pain

If the side of your foot is very painful, a doctor may recommend a prescription or over-the-counter pain reliever, plus prescription medication to relieve swelling and inflammation of your foot. Painkillers won’t get rid of bunions – nor are they one of the best bunion cures, – but they’ll help you walk without pain.

5. Orthopedic shoes to get rid of bunions

My family doctor recommended orthopedic shoes when I first asked her about the pain on the side of my foot. This worked really well – I bought a pair of running shoes with lots of room in the toe area. I invested in well-made, well-fitting running shoes because I walk my dogs three times a day and I need orthopedic support. Orthopedic shoes won’t get rid of bunions completely, but they can stop the progression and ease the pain of having a bunion on a foot.

Sometimes an orthotic specialist can prescribe shoes with specially designed insoles and uppers that take the pressure off the joints and help your foot regain its proper shape. This might be the best tip on how to get rid of bunions, if your aren’t too far along yet.

6. Inserts made especially for bunion on foot

I bought two pairs of inserts so I could wear all my shoes, instead of only wearing one or two pairs of orthopedic shoes. This was a mistake. The inserts I bought put too much pressure on the side of my foot – and the bunion. This caused more pain on the bunion side of my foot. If you buy bunion pads, splints, or other shoe inserts for hallux valgus, make sure they don’t exert pressure elsewhere on the foot and aggravate other problems. My bunion cure actually worsened my foot pain.

Bunion inserts can be effective – especially if you research something like Barefoot Science – Active Arch Activation Foot Support Insoles. I bought cheap inserts for my shoes, which isn’t my recommendation for bunion cures! Inserts or insoles will support your foot and prevent the bunion from growing and causing pain on the side of a foot, but you have to find the right ones.

7. Surgery to get rid of bunions – bunionectomy

When the bunion symptoms, especially pain on the side of a foot, are really bad, bunion surgery may be an option. However, surgery for cosmetic reasons (to make your foot look pretty) isn’t recommended because the health and foot risks are greater than the benefits. A bunionectomy is done in a hospital or surgery clinic with local anesthesia and sedation or general anesthesia. Some of the potential complications of surgery to get rid of bunions include recurrence of the bunion, inadequate correction, overcorrection in the foot, continued pain in the side of the foot, and limited movement of the large toe. This is one of those bunion cures you need to discuss with a podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon.

3 Quick Tips on How to Get Rid of Bunions

• Pay attention to the shape of your feet over time, especially if foot problems or hallux valgus runs in your family.
• Exercise your feet to strengthen them. Pick up small objects, like a pencil or pebble, with your toes. You might also try rolling your feet on a foot massager, to help ease the pain on side of foot.
• Wear shoes that don’t cramp or pinch your toes, or squeeze the sides of your foot too much. Women, avoid high heels and pointed-toe shoes – especially if your family members have struggled with bunion pain.

DenadaDance® makes a Bunion Protector with 2 big toe protectors and 2 toe spacers. It’s a soft gel shield that offers space and protection for the joints and skin. This is a type of bunion cure that works for many people.

As you might have guessed, there isn’t a lot you can do to actually get rid of bunions on feet. Nor are there any miracle bunion cures that make your feet fresh and new! But, you can find ways to relieve the pain on the side of your foot and slow the progression of the growth of the bunion.

It’s really important to get your bunion checked out by a podiatrist or even an orthopedic surgeon. Don’t let it grow, and don’t rely on your family doctor to know everything about hallux valgus. Take care of your foot health now, before it gets worse.

If you have any tips on how to get rid of bunions – or bunion cures – please share below.

Sources: Prevalence of Bunions Increases with Age; More Common in Women and Understanding Bunions — Diagnosis and Treatment.