Bunions are caused by your big toe joints becoming incorrectly aligned. This causes the one bone on your big toe (called the first metatarsal) to slant outward and the second bone (called the phalanx) then angles towards your other toes. Your joint then begins to swell. It causes a bump of bone on the foot that can become painful when left untreated, and can especially hurt when wearing shoes.

Even though most people think tight-fitting shoes or high heels are to blame, the real cause may simply be your parents. If your mother or father had bunions, you run the risk of getting them too. Being born with a weakness in the bone structure of your foot eventually causes the joints to move out of proper position. Shoes can make the problem worse if they do not fit well.

Sometimes wearing wider shoes or using protective padding will alleviate the discomfort. Often, surgery is needed to correct the problem.