If you have a painful bump on the side of your big toe, you might worry about your mobility. Will it keep growing until you can no longer walk comfortably?
At Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic, Dr. Aamir Mahmood and Dr. Joseph G. Wilson help patients manage bunions. We provide personalized care at our offices in Michigan City, IN, Chesterton, IN, and Lombard, IL.
A bunion is a progressive bone deformity where the big toe shifts outward and the first metatarsal bone shifts inward. This change alters how your foot carries your weight, which often causes chronic pain.
Your bunion will not necessarily worsen rapidly, but it is a progressive condition that cannot heal on its own.
In a 2023 study of 1,482 older adults in the United Kingdom, existing bunions structurally progressed in 33.6% of participants over seven years. This means about one in three people saw their deformity worsen, while many remained stable.
At our offices in Indiana and Illinois, we evaluate your foot structure to determine your risk of progression. We focus on early, personalized care to protect your joint health before the deformity advances.
Non-surgical treatments can successfully ease your pain, but they cannot physically straighten your big toe.
A 2022 review of 18 studies showed conservative treatments help reduce pain. However, evidence was of low certainty that splints or orthotics could structurally correct the toe angle. These devices offer temporary pressure relief but do not permanently realign the underlying bone.
However, active therapies can significantly reduce daily discomfort. In a 2026 clinical trial of 45 women with mild to moderate bunions, participants did targeted foot exercises five days a week. This routine successfully reduced painful pressure on the big toe.
We help you find relief by combining these active exercises with footwear modifications and custom orthotics. Our team guides you through the right movements to strengthen your foot muscles and balance your stride.
You should consider surgery when conservative treatments no longer relieve your pain and the discomfort interferes with your daily life.
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons advises considering surgery when nonsurgical options fail to relieve pain. This is especially true if pain limits your daily activities. Because bunions change how your foot carries weight, worsening pain can mean the joint can no longer handle daily pressure.
At Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic, we always explore conservative options first. If surgery becomes necessary, Dr. Mahmood and Dr. Wilson use advanced surgical techniques to restore proper alignment and get you back on your feet.
You do not have to let bunion pain limit your daily activities or keep you from the things you love. Schedule a visit with our experienced podiatry team today at our Michigan City, IN, Chesterton, IN, or Lombard, IL, locations.
