A bunion deformity is a bump on the side of the foot, just behind the big toe . The bump may or may not be painful. As a bunion progresses , the big toe itself will shift toward the other toes. A bunion may represent a true localized growth of bone, a deviation of the 1st metatarsal bone, or a combination of both.
Bunions start as small protrusions of bone behind the big toe.
In severe cases, the big toe will actually overlap the second toe. They may also occur as a result of other factors. For example, women find that their foot size increases about one half size the birth of a child. This occurs as a combination of hormones released to help with birth and increased weight associated with pregnancy. Most bunions of a mild degree can be treated with functional orthotics .