At Helena Regional Medical Center we know how much bunions can hurt. Even putting on shoes can become difficult, let alone walking comfortably or doing the things you love. 

About Bunions

A bunion is a lump that usually forms at the base of your big toe. It gets progressively larger, sometimes so much that it forces the big toe inward and on top of the next toe. The skin over the bunion may become swollen and sore, while the protrusion can cause intense pain and restrict movement in your toes.

Bunions are thought to be hereditary. They are often associated with arthritis, and can lead to other foot conditions, including hammertoe and bursitis.

Without the right treatment, bunions can eventually cause debilitating pain and severely damage the toe joint.

Relief Starts Here

A podiatrist can assess your pain and work closely with you to find the right treatment. 

We often start with non-invasive options, such as changing shoes, custom orthotic inserts, anti-inflammatory medication or cortisone injections. But, if those treatments aren’t effective, bunion surgery may be your best solution for relief and to help correct the deformity.

Depending on the severity of your bunion, surgery may involve:

• Removing the swollen tissue from around your big toe joint
• Straightening your big toe by removing part of the bone
• Realigning the long bone between the back part of your foot and your big toe to straighten out the abnormal angle in your big toe joint
• Joining (fusing) the bones of your affected joint permanently
• Replacing all or part of the joint with an artificial one

Recovery & Follow-Up Care

We usually perform bunionectomy on an outpatient basis, allowing you to go home the same day. You may be fitted with a special boot to help stabilize the foot.