Treating Bunions Without Surgery: Easier Than You Think

Treating Bunions Without Surgery: Easier Than You Think

Do you suffer from bunion pain? Have you been told that surgery was your only option for relief? If so, then we may have some good news for you: a podiatrist in Portland believes gentler, simpler options may be available.

Dr. Ray McClanahan is a leader in "conservative foot care" treatments and believes that most foot ailments can be prevented and/or treated be restoring natural function (i.e., barefoot-like movement). He is also the inventor of Correct Toes—simple, over-the-counter toe spacers that may help treat a multitude of foot problems.

Bear in mind that Dr. McClanahan's reasearch, and what you are about to read, challenges beliefs held by most traditional podiatrists.

What is a Bunion?

Bunions are among the most common and most painful foot ailments out there. Also known by the medical name hallux abductovalgus, a bunion occurs when your big toe points toward your second toe, causing a bump or prominence to develop on the inside edge of your big toe and first metatarsal bone. Symptoms include redness in the affected area, bursitis, blistering and/or callus formation over the bunion and nerve damage that may include numbness and/or sharp pain. If left untreated, the pain can also spread to nearby joints. Bunions affect women far more often than men, and that may not be a coincidence, according to McClanahan.

Bunion Treatment Without Surgery - It May be Easier Than You Think

Who has toes shaped like this?

What Causes Bunions?

While many factors may increase your chances of developing bunions, including arthritis, limb length inequalities and genetics, McClanahan believes conventional shoes that make women's feet look small and pointy may be the prime culprit. Fashionable women's shoes (and some men's shoes) tend to have tapered toe boxes, which push big toes inward. Raised heels and arch supports, also popular among conventional shoes, may also contribute to the development of bunions. Wearing these kinds of shoes for many years can lead to deformity in the feet, in which the big toe literally stays bent growing toward the second toe. When this happens, the point where the bunion occurs continues to protrude further. Think of it like a playground see-saw: when one end goes up, the other goes down. In the same way, when the upper bones of your big toe are pushed in, the lower bones are pushed out.

In cultures of people who routinely go barefoot, toes are usually the widest part of feet and bunions are extremely rare. In our western culture, however, the ball of the foot is commonly the widest point and bunions, located right at that spot, are quite common.

Bunion Treatment Without Surgery - It May be Easier Than You Think

Treatment Options

A conventional treatment for a bunion is a bunionectomy, or surgery that removes part of the bulging metatarsal bone and forcibly realigns the joints. This surgery is often followed with prescriptions for orthotic arch supports and highly cushioned shoes that keep feet confined in unnatural positions. While this may result in some pain relief, proponents of natural foot movement argue that the surgery does not confront the source of the issue and may be an extreme solution when other, less invasive options may be available. It is worth noting that bunions can still return after surgery, especially if the conditions that caused them in the first place have not changed.

Natural Bunion Treatment

McClanahan practices an alternative way to treat bunion patients with less invasive measures, essentially by gently restoring the natural shape and function of the foot. It's really quite simple:

  1. With the use of bunion splints or toe spacers (such as Correct Toes—McClanahan's own invention) toes can be gradually restored to a more natural position, thereby undoing the motion that pushes the bunion out. In other words, as your toes spread out, the bunion starts to recede.
  2. Simple massage and range of motion exercises, like the one shown in the video below, can be very effective in relaxing and "retraining" foot muscles to move toes in their natural direction.
  3. Wearing footwear that encourages natural movement is strongly recommended to reverse, rather than encourage, the damage.

Remember to be patient with natural bunion treatment. It likely took decades for your bunion to develop and that change will not be reversed overnight. While some people may notice relief from pain right away, it could take weeks or even months to see the difference.

Bunion-Fighting Footwear

So what kind of shoes should you look for? McClahahan recommends finding shoes with the following features:

  1. Wide toe boxes that allow your feet to spread.
  2. Little or no arch support.
  3. Little or no elevated heels.
  4. Overall lightweight and flexible design.

Fortunately, many shoe manufacturers have begun making minimalist shoes that meet these criteria, including... [ahem]... Softstar Shoes! Every one of our shoes are designed to keep your feet as barefoot as possible with wide toe boxes and thin, flexible soles. We are proud to say we have a wide selection of fashionable women's shoes to keep your feet moving naturally... all made by hand in Oregon, USA:

 Who says stylish shoes have to hurt your feet?

Furthermore, Dr. McClanahan himself helped us test and develop our Primal sole shape. Shoes made with this sole shape, such as our Primal RunAmoc and Primal Sawyer, feature an extra-wide toe box to allow a natural and healthy toe splay:

 Shoes featuring Primal sole shapes.

We hear from many happy customers who have worn our shoes to help reverse bunion pain and find relief. Please remember that we are shoemakers, not doctors, so we can't make any medical claims about our footwear and we don't prescribe our shoes for any treatment routine—nor do we guarantee any results. That being said, we have heard several customer success stories and we hope you'll consider this natural method if you're trying to recover from bunion pain.

The earlier a bunion is treated, the more likely it can be relieved. McClanahan also warns that the longer feet are deformed by tapered shoes, the less effective treatment will be. In severe cases, surgery may end up being the only option. It is worth noting, however, that many traditional podiatrists shun the idea of treating and curing foot pain by restoring natural movement simply because these methods are relatively new and challenge traditional thinking. Some podiatrists who now support this newer view have told us they were taught in school to only treat bunions with surgery and, after decades of reinforcing this idea, simply found it inconceivable to accept other possibilities. If you are interested in seeking alternative treatment or getting another opinion based on natural foot function, then you may have to do your work finding a podiatrist who supports this view.

For more information about Dr. Ray McClanahan and his practice, visit the Northwest Foot and Ankle Website. We also recommend these articles:

Watch this video to see Dr. McClanahan explain bunion causes and treatment options in more detail:

Disclaimer: we are excited to share the information above, which conveys the research done by Dr. McClanahan at NW Foot and Ankle. This article reflects the stories we've heard from many customers who have successfully treated bunions without sugery and also supports our philosophy of minimal shoe design that encourages natural foot function, but please keep in mind that we are shoemakers and not doctors. As such, we cannot answer questions about an individual's foot pain or prescribe medical advice. We recommend contacting NW Foot and Ankle directly regarding any medical inquiries.

98 Comments

  1. Jade Brunet
    My brother is finding that his shoes do not fit as well as they used to and is having pain walking. We are wondering if he might have a bunion. It is good to know that arthritis, limb length inequalities, and genetics could be reasons for bunions. I did not know that toe spacers and bunion splints could be used to help solve the problem. I will share this information with my brother.
    Reply
    1. Elf Martin
      Thanks Jade! We hope it works out well for him.
      Reply
  2. Emergency flats
    Emergency flats
    This is a useful video and article in your blog......
    Reply
  3. Lauren Jones
    My friend just adopted a daughter from the islands, and she is realizing that it is extremely uncomfortable for the new member of her family to wear shoes since she is so used to wearing only flip flops. It is good to know that bunions are among the most common and most painful foot ailments out there. Thanks for informing me that a bunion occurs when your big toe points toward your second tow, causing a bump. I will be sure to share this information with my friend, thanks.
    Reply
  4. Andrew Ross
    Do you happen to make shoes for flat and wide feet?cause I have a little bunion problem but I have no arch and my feet are wide.
    Reply
    1. Elf Martin
      Hi Andrew. We certainly make shoes for wide feet, but people disagree on what you need for flat feet. None of our shoes have cushioning or arch supports, as we believe these act as crutches that prevent arches from forming and strengthening naturally. Our newest design, the Primal RunAmoc, will feature an extra wide toe box that we hope will be very helpful for treating bunions. It will be released in the fall of 2017, but you can read about it here: http://www.softstarshoes.com/live-bare-blog/2017/06/13/new-primal-shoe-style/
      Reply
  5. Jim Einhorn
    Now have severe pain on left large toe and affecting my walk. I limp as the pain is high. Painful to walk and continues even without walking. First the Dr. said I have gout and blood test revealed normal levels indicating the pain was coming from another problem. The large toe definitely is leaning toward the 2nd. Applied ice and have taken several different medicines prescribed such as Indomethacin and diclofenac . Relief came from indomethacin at first but seems not to help now. Tried Ibuprofen but no relief. I have an appointment in 4 days but in the mean time would appreciate any suggestions. Also applied ice pack. I am a fairly healthy 68 year old man. I wonder if surgery will be necessary. I purchased an over night splint that have applied when sleeping. Dr. did take an Xray that showed signs of a bunion and no signs of arthritis.
    Reply
    1. Elf Martin
      So sorry to hear about your pain, Jim. We're unfortunately not able to provide medical advice, but you may find some good tips at www.correcttoes.com or www.nwfootankle.com. We wish you a fast recovery!
      Reply
  6. Allison
    Hi there! Thanks for the awesome tips - I just recently realized that I indeed do have a nasty bunion on my right foot. Not suprising as I was born with flat feet and have problems for a long time. I'm currently working on losing weight and getting into a exercise regime (swimming as it puts less pressure on my joints). I just purchased some lovely New Balance cross-trainers that have a wide footbed but I am also starting to use my prescription orthodics again. I know you said to wear flat shoes but that does not work for my naturally born flat feet. Other than the stretches/pressure - are there any splints or supports that you recommend?
    Reply
  7. Richard P. Jackson, O.D.
    Richard P. Jackson, O.D.
    First of all I must inform you that I am a"Doctor" or an Optometrist. I am supposed to know "nothing" except how to fit glasses and contacts. Well, that is nonsense. I did not go to a Podiatrist for my chronic problems of Dorsal Bunions, and Plantar Faciitis, but was able to read the literature on U-tube and developed my own treatment plan that actually worked. I can report that I have absolutely no heel pain, I have now full lateral motion in my left foot which was always a little smaller than my right foot so the available toe boxes for CW footwear was less of a problem and the bunion and plantar faciitis was never as big a problem. I was able to do this by using toe spaces from China, exercises I got off of U-tube, and Virbam five finger shoes which I wear now full-time. All this happened to me in less than 6 months. I am looking forward to full recovery where all my toes are spaced and my big toe points straight all the time as I walk in perhaps 2-3 more months of my current treatment plan. I found that I AM REALLY MY BEST DOCTOR.
    Reply
  8. Farzan
    Hello,

    I have bought the softstar black leather shoes. I want to come speak to a softstar rep or a doctor like mclanahan to address what shoe type is best for my feet and bunion. Do you have anybody in California or is there anybody you can refer me to? Thank yoi
    Reply
  9. Su Sie
    It started with Plantar Facilitis of my right foot & now I have bunions on both feet but the bunion on the right foot is worse 5 years ago. Have been seeing a podiatrist for the past 3 years. He suggested to wear orthodics & special wide toe shoes & splints at night. The orthodics & shoes has helped to relieve the pain from plantar facilitis but he said I need to address the bunions otherwise the plantar facilitis cannot be cured. The splints & (toe separators for day time) does not seem to help much. Just wonder what else to do other than surgery. Will try the toe exercises after seeing it here.
    Reply
  10. Kasondra
    I am in my twenties and have had my bunion as long as I can remember. I am in constant discomfort from my bunion pain and am experiencing residual effects. I am so excited I found this website and hope that I have a pain free foot within the next few months
    Question, is the dislocation permanent? I know you can stretch those muscles, but can you completely reverse the dislocation?
    Reply
  11. Deborah
    Hi. I have long narrow feet and long fingers and toes. Years of my feet pushing forward due to lack of a snug fit, means my toes were hitting the end of the shoe. This happened recently when I was out all day gardening and wearing some wide shoes (Crocs). As my left foot is longer than my right, it has a worse problem.

    Therefore, wide shoes are not always good. I'm pointing this out because many of your customers might need a longer shoe because of long toes. This means the shoe will be bigger, but the foot comparitively shallow, in that the arch will be set further back in the shoe.
    The problem is much more pronounced with a court shoe, which doesn't have ties or another way of holding the shoe correctly in place and stopping the dangerous forward movement which results in hitting the the big toe on the end of the shoe. If there's nothing to stop that, this trauma will happen to the joint, causing swelling and discomfort and the ungainly angle of the toe. Then there is less capacity for movement.

    I urge you to consider that the problem is more complex than just tapering shoes. While the narrowness of my feet is unusual, I've noticed the long fingers and toes issue, or shallow feet issue is very common. It's very important to be supported by the shoe. I often see people wearing shoes with a gap at the back, and they're pushing forward into the shoe. Another reason people develop a bunion on one side or the other is that most feet aren't the same length. If you have one foot pushing to the end of the shoe and hitting the end, or one foot being squashed by the shoe not being long enough, you have variations on the theme. Each are causes.

    After talking with an older friend who had the surgery and having had consultation with a podiatrist, I noticed that a key point was how strongly the first toe was pressing down into the ground. This affects functionality of the foot.

    So I did the logical thing and started stretching leaning on my foot with my weight, and bending onto my toes lifting my heel up, and forcing my big toe back into position....gently! In a stretching and pushing down movement. This has been remarkably successful.

    I also have a shallow foot and weak arches, so I have started another form of exercising my feet every night before bed to strengthen my arches. Apparently with age, people's arches often get weaker and they go up a shoe size. I wasn't going to let that happen to me! My feet are long enough with the long toes...

    Gripping a bead about 3/4 of an inch large with my toes. Picking the bead up, holding it and dropping it to the ground. Repeat.
    This has successfully strengthened my arches and changed the way my foot works and even my posture. My weight is now more evenly distributed. This more even distribution means callouses are not forming on my underfoot like they used to. I've got some side mini bunions and callouses there, but not on the main part of the underfoot. This also means my foot looks better visually.

    I am heartened by your site, which shows my approach has been sensible! I have been able to get results, and now I'm going to perservere...and do that more energetically.
    One problem with bunions is they then become painful if shoes are too tight...If I wear wider shoes then my feet pressed forward, exacerbating the situation. Therefore I wear tie up shoes, or shoes with a cross strap or some other way of keeping those shallow feet to the back of the shoe and NOT pressing forward. The dilemma for me is the lack of narrow fitting shoes.

    Court shoes are badly designed and to be avoided.

    Another problem is with age the natural padding on the sole of the feet becomes compressed. I fixed that by using a flat Chinese device which has wooden rollers, with little soft plastic spikes on it. The soft spikes stimulate the circulation, as you roll your foot over it. At the same time I took a supplement to stimulate collagen production. I also wore insoles to help soften any pressure. This also seems to have worked. Previously I was getting burning sensations in my underfoot and sharp pain. Hoping this might help someone, and also the foot specialists will carefully consider my points.

    A lot of foot issues are commonsense. Look at what the shoes are doing to your feet, and how your foot moves in the shoe, where the shoe is pressing. I like the shoes in here but I'm not sure that the ballet ones aren't too wide. I live in Australia so it won't be fun if I order some and then have to return them....
    Reply
  12. Rachel
    I tried wearing minimalist shoes for 2 years, and it didn't help. I have metatarsalgia, which causes high arches and over-pronation. Apparently over-pronation can also contribute to bunions. So I tried these inserts made for metatarsalgia, which elevate the first metatarsal, which is supposed to correct the over-pronation and take some of the strain off of the second metatarsal by spreading your weight across all of the metatarsals better. This insert also has no arch support, so it's not supposed to weaken the arches. I put those into my barefoot shoes. I wore my barefoot shoes with this insert, and no arch supports, for about 2 years. Nothing happened with my bunion. I mean, it didn't get worse, but it didn't get better. Of course, it hadn't gotten worse since I stopped wearing any kind of toe-restricting shoes some 10 years before that.

    When I was pregnant 2 years ago, I gained about 80 pounds, including baby, and my feet couldn't take it anymore. I _had_ to add an arch support and cushion at the ball of my foot. I've since lost all of the baby weight, but now I'm switching to shoes with arch supports and sole cushioning to see how that goes. My mother has the same foot problems that I do, and she refuses to go without arch supports. In fact, she even has some she can strap onto her feet so she can go "barefoot" with support.
    I know that I can barely walk barefoot without pain on that second metatarsal and feeling like I'm trying to balance on ice-skates. I have to wear slippers at home, with arch supports.

    I've had bunions since I was a child - I always remember my toes overlapping. The one on my right foot went away on its own (and my toe straightened) sometime in my early to mid 20s. However, the one on my left foot persists. I do know I put more weight onto my left foot.
    Anyhow, in my case I think there's a genetic component. I know there isn't always, but for some of us there is. And, unfortunately, minimalist shoes didn't work for me. With my metatarsalgia, the pain and callous beneath my second metatarsal got worse with barefoot shoes. It's too bad, because otherwise those shoes were so comfortable - like wearing slippers all day long.

    I wish more manufacturers would make stylish, healthy shoes, especially for women. Flat, no pointy toe, and plenty of room in the toe-box. Arch supports and padding simply need to be options for some of us.
    When it comes time to buy new shoes, I always have to go hunting and hunting, and eventually settle on a style I can sort of stand, because function and comfort is ultimately more important if I want to avoid foot pain. I hate it when my shoes wear out, because then I have to go on the hunt again.
    Reply
  13. Rachel
    Sorry, I was incomplete in my last comment. I have metatarsalgia because I have Morton's Toe, which means my second metatarsal is extra long. That means my second toe sticks out further than my first/big toe, and that there's extra pressure on my second metatarsal at the ball of my foot, which causes pain there, and deep calluses to form only in that area. Since all of the ball-of-foot pressure is on that one place, it can cause someone to either supinate (foot rolls out, toward the pinky toe), or over-pronate (foot rolls in, toward the big toe). I also just now read that Morton's Toe can _cause_ bunions. Well, my feet over-pronate and I have a bunion on my left foot (used to have one on my right foot but it went away).

    So, in this case, you need some sort of an insert to correct the problem. If you over-pronate, they have these inserts that have a wedge from the inner edge of the shoe, under the first metatarsal and big toe, and ending by the second metatarsal. It's supposed to help your weight be better distributed. They helped me a little, but not enough - I still ended up with pain, callus, and inflammation at that second metatarsal end.
    The other option, and what it seems I need, is an arch support. That's because the arch support literally stops the foot from being able to over-pronate.


    I also just read the comment above mine, and I wanted to say that I have long toes (and fingers, and arms, and legs) too (all of them, but especially my second toe due to Morton's Toe). I'm not sure I have the same problem with my toes hitting the end of my shoes consistently (but it's happened with some shoes), but I do have the same problem where built in arch supports often feel too far forward. I have to find shoes with long toe boxes (but I also like the toe box wide, so my toes can splay out naturally, and there's no bunion pressure) and size down half a size from what my foot measures at, and then the arch support hits in the right spot. Then I also have the added complication that my midfoot is pretty narrow, so even though I have high arches, I really have to cinch up the laces or straps of my shoes up at the top there.

    Shoe-hunting ... such a pain! I really wish more manufacturers would get into the specialty market and make lines of shoes that were stylish but you could "dial in" exactly what you need... width, length, toe box, insole style, etc. And then to have the fit be consistent across their entire line, so you can just know, "I can buy always Brand X's shoes with this width, this size, this toe box, and this insole (or no insole so your custom orthotics can go in), and then I can just pick out the style I _like_ and be done with it, no more worries!"
    Oh to dream..... "Brand X" might just do very good for themselves......
    Reply
    1. Elf Martin
      Sorry to hear about your foot pain, Rachel! I'm curious, though... did you try wearing toe spacers when you tried wearing minimalist shoes? Some people are fortunate enough to have their toes spread out and return to a natural position when they switch to minimalist shoes, but for many folks that change doesn't happen unless you have a little help, like Correct Toes. Dr. McClanahan, inventor of Correct Toes, is a big fan of metatarsal pads like you mention above and he usually recommends them with his toe spacers to help feet return to their natural shape. His team is currently collecting photos from patients who have reversed their bunions using these treatments so we hope to be able to share them on our blog soon. You may also be interested in exercises that help strengthen the arch. That might help with your over-pronation without the use of arch supports, which (according to Dr. Ray) ultimately act as a crutch and will only make your arch weaker over time.
      Reply
  14. Carla
    Hi I have mild to moderate bunions from my tight fitting shoes especially since I dance and I wear very snug ballet and pointe shoes. I will be discontinuing ballet so I won’t be wearing the shoes anymore. I was wondering if other brands like the correct toes work the same? I am looking for some for a lower cost and was just wanted to know if I guess knock off work well?
    Reply
    1. Elf Martin
      Hi Carla. I'm sorry to say we don't have experience with other brands of toe spacers. The only other common brand we hear about is Yoga Toes, but the main criticism we hear about them is that you can't wear them in your shoes or walk and run with them as you can with Correct Toes.
      Reply
  15. Jay
    How about some men’s shoes please? I have a bunion and I don’t wear heels!
    Reply
    1. Elf Martin
      You're in luck, Jay, because we have men's shoes with wide toe boxes, too! Our Primal RunAmoc currently has the widest toe box on the market, and we'll be releasing a variation of our Hawthorne Chukka with an extra wide toe box this summer.
      Reply
  16. Tyler Johnson
    Tyler Johnson
    That's good to know that tapered shoes can increase the chances of getting a bunion. I have a pair of tapered dress shoes and I have noticed that they do push my toes together a lot more than other shoes. I'll have to think about not wearing them all the time to make sure that my feet stay in good condition.
    Reply
  17. Nancy Hollo
    Former nursing assistant who worked double shifts here. I believe that walking on unnaturally flat and smooth floors and pavement contributes to foot problems. I found relief from plantar fasciitis by walking in sturdy boots on rough terrain that needs a variety of foot positions and rotates the ankles. Mild bunion pain is almost gone after moving to a warm climate and wearing only open toe sandals and long barefoot walks on the beach.
    Reply
  18. Whitney
    Hi! I have bunions, id say moderatly bad. They dont hurt but they look ugly. I just did this massage because im hoping to reverse and my foot is so sore the next day!!! I didnt think I did it too hard and if felt nice while I did it. Is this normal? Will the pain go away soon?
    Reply
  19. Patricia Sullivan
    What if I work on hard floors? As a teacher I am walking around on hard tile floors all day long. Are the minimalist ballet flats going to give me enough cushioning?
    Reply
  20. Callum Palmer
    I'm pretty sure that my dad has one of these on his right foot. It would be good to get it removed as it is causing him some discomfort. I'll for sure look into the different treatment options as I know that there are multiple ones to pick from. Going with a natural one might be best for him.
    Reply
  21. Jerry Woods
    It's interesting to know that simple massages can help move your toes in the right direction. My wife is struggling with walking and she has been looking for ways to fix the shape of her feet. I'll be sure to tell her that she should try to start massaging her toes.
    Reply
  22. Braden Bills
    I noticed a bump coming out of my foot, and I'm starting to think that it might be a bunion. It makes sense that it could be caused by the shape of the toe box in my shoes! Maybe it would be a good idea for me to go to a professional to see if they can fix this for me.
    Reply
  23. Rob
    Why are you working a foot without a bunion?? Doesn't prove anything.
    Reply
  24. Russell Mortensen
    Russell Mortensen
    It's good to know that some massages and range of motion exercises could help problems with bunions. My sister has had some major foot problems lately that need to be treated by a professional. I'll let her know that she should get some new shoes soon that will help prevent these issues in the future.
    Reply
  25. Chris Pederson
    I'd like to get some shoes that can prevent bunions or treat them just in case. It'd be nice to get wide toe boxes like you said to do. I never want to get bunions so I'll be sure to do what I can.
    Reply
  26. Trevor Hall
    It's shocking to learn that bunions are really only prevalent in Western countries. My brother is trying to get his feet cared for. He wants to find a podiatrist that can help out.
    Reply
  27. Eli Richardson
    Eli Richardson
    It really helped when you talked about bunions and how we could get them. Recently, my sister mentioned she thinks she's developing bunions, just like our mom. My sister's worried about foot pain, so I'll be sure to share this article with her. Thanks for the information on bunion treatments and their features. [suspicious link removed]
    Reply
  28. Molly
    Hi, Its a wounderful post.Thanks for your nice post. Do you know? The guidelines recognize that every patient is different, has been diagnosed with a certain form of JIA, and that treatment decisions should be made in collaboration with the diagnosed person and their caregivers.
    Reply

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