Bunions develop when the pressures of bearing and shifting your weight fall unevenly on the joints and tendons in your feet. This imbalance in pressure makes your big toe joint unstable, eventually molding the parts of the joint into a hard knob that juts out beyond the normal shape of your foot.

Bunions can caused by:

• Inherited foot type
• Foot injuries
• Deformities present at birth (congenital)
• Bunions may be associated with certain types of arthritis, particularly inflammatory types, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Ways to alleviate bunion pain include:

• Wear shoes that fit properly.
• Soak feet in warm water can temporarily relieve pain associated with bunions. ( Important note: Diabetic patients should NOT do a foot soak unless directed by a Doctor.) 
• Orthotics can provide extra support and protection and help place the foot in the correct position within the shoe.
• Your podiatrist can also recommend exercises to maintain join mobility and prevent stiffness.

If conservative treatments do not solve the problem, your doctor may recommend bunion surgery to remove the bunion and realign the toe.