# Bunions (hallux valgus) - Web page: https://kainezitherapy.com/en/conditions/ankle-and-foot/hallux-valgus/ - Body area: [Ankle and foot](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/conditions/ankle-and-foot.md) - Recommended treatment: - [Kinesio taping (one area)](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/services/kinesitherapy/kinesio-taping.md): €25.00, 20 min - [Post-operative rehabilitation](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/services/kinesitherapy/post-operative-rehabilitation.md): €40.00, 60 min - Address: 10 Popovo Street, Lozenets, Sofia, 1409 - Opening hours: Mon - Fri | 9:00 - 19:00 - Phone: +359 886 750 462 - WhatsApp: +359 886 750 462 - Viber: +359 886 750 462 - Book online: https://superdoc.bg/lekar/kaloyan-zarkov - Booking page: https://kainezitherapy.com/en/appointments/ A bunion (hallux valgus) is when the big toe turns towards the other toes, with a bump at its base. It causes pain and makes it hard to find shoes that fit. ## At a glance - **How it feels** A bump at the base of the big toe, pain in tight shoes - **How long treatment takes** Exercises ease the pain; the toe stays crooked - **Surgery** When pain gets in the way of walking; an orthopaedic doctor decides A bunion (hallux valgus) is when the big toe turns towards the other toes, so that the joint at its base sticks out as a bump. In everyday speech, the bump itself is called the bunion. It is much more common in women and in families where other people have bunions. Tight shoes and high heels aren’t the only cause, but they make it worse. It usually appears on both feet, but one is often more crooked than the other. ## Symptoms - A bump at the base of the big toe, sometimes red. - Pain when walking and in tight shoes. - The big toe leans towards the second toe, sometimes riding over it or tucking under it. - Calluses on the sole of the foot and between the toes. - Pain under the ball of the foot (metatarsalgia). - A stiff big toe, especially when pushing off the ground. - Pain in the big toe joint when walking or running for long. The deformity usually increases slowly, over years. The size of the bump doesn’t always match the pain: some people with a large deformity have no symptoms, while others with a slight one can’t find comfortable shoes. Some people have a similar bump on the outer side of the foot, at the little toe. ## Why it happens - Heredity: the most common cause. - Tight, pointed shoes and high heels. - Flat feet and loose ligaments. - Arthritis of the joints. - Old injuries to the big toe. - Work that involves standing for long periods. The pain usually comes from the shoe pressing on the bump and from the overload on the other toes, not from the deformity itself. That is why comfortable shoes make such a difference. ## How we treat it Kaloyan looks at your foot, the way you walk and how much your big toe moves, and explains honestly what can be achieved. The aim is for you to walk without pain and to wear the shoes you need for work and for every day. Exercises and device-based physiotherapy don’t straighten the toe, but they reduce the pain and keep the joint mobile. [Kinesio taping](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/services/kinesitherapy/kinesio-taping/) supports the big toe and takes load off the joint when you walk, and Kaloyan shows you exercises for the muscles of the foot. He will also look at your shoes and tell you what to look for in the next pair. If you have pain under the ball of the foot, Kaloyan works on that too, because the big toe often no longer takes its share of the load, and the load shifts to the other toes. If your orthopaedic doctor decides that surgery is needed, [post-operative rehabilitation](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/services/kinesitherapy/post-operative-rehabilitation/) afterwards restores the movement of the big toe, your walking and the strength of the foot. It starts within your surgeon’s time frames, usually once you can put weight on the foot. Recovery after bunion surgery usually takes several months, and the swelling of the foot can last a long time. During this time Kaloyan works on the mobility of the big toe, on a normal push-off when you walk, and on balance. ## What you can do yourself - Wear shoes with a wide toe box and a low heel. - Silicone toe separators and pads over the bump reduce rubbing. - Night splints may ease the pain, but they don’t straighten the toe for good. - Give your feet a rest in the evening: take off your shoes and move your toes. - If you work on your feet, change your shoes during the day. - If you run or play sport, choose trainers with a wide toe box. ## When to see a doctor first A bunion on its own isn’t an emergency. See a doctor first if: - the joint is suddenly swollen, red and very painful; - you have a wound or inflammation on the bump, especially if you have diabetes; - the pain gets in the way of walking despite comfortable shoes; - your big toe is numb or cold. Performed by ## Kaloyan Zarkov, kinesitherapist - Kinesitherapy degree, NSA “Vassil Levski” - 10+ years of practice [About us](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/about/) ## Frequently asked questions ### What helps bunions (hallux valgus)? Comfortable shoes with a wide toe box, foot exercises, taping and toe separators. They reduce the pain, but they don’t straighten the toe. ### Can a bunion be fixed without surgery? No. The deformity doesn’t straighten without surgery, but the pain can often be reduced with shoes and exercises. ### Does a splint help with a bunion? A night splint eases the pain for some people, but it doesn’t straighten the toe for good. ### How long does recovery take after bunion surgery? Usually 6 to 8 weeks in a special shoe, and 3 to 6 months until you walk normally and play sport. Your surgeon gives the time frames. ### Are there exercises for bunions? Yes. They keep the big toe mobile and strengthen the muscles of the foot. Kaloyan will show you the exercises that suit you. ## Other conditions in “Ankle and foot” [All about ankle and foot](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/conditions/ankle-and-foot/) - [Sprained ankle](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/conditions/ankle-and-foot/ankle-sprain/) - [Broken ankle](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/conditions/ankle-and-foot/ankle-fracture/) - [Achilles tendonitis](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/conditions/ankle-and-foot/achilles-tendinitis/) - [Heel spurs](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/conditions/ankle-and-foot/heel-spur/) - [Flat feet](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/conditions/ankle-and-foot/flat-feet/) ## Want to improve your health? Get in touch for a personal consultation. [Book an appointment](https://kainezitherapy.com/en/appointments/) [+359 886 750 462](tel:+359886750462)