Combine that with bad genetics, and your feet may end up looking like this. Bunions are an extremely common foot problem affecting both men and women. Not only do bunions look bad, but it gets much worse when you see an x-ray. This is the bump that we see. And this is the elation between the large toe and the bone behind it.
Many people have the malformation, but no discomfort.
Not everyone is so lucky. For many people, pain makes surgery their only option. That used to mean even more pain during recovery, and a lot of time off their feet, but new advances are changing that. Many times patients can walk the day of the surgery. There is a very short period of discomfort immediately after the surgery that usually is held by medications.