WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT... bunions

A bunion is a bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe, and can be painful.

“If you’re suffering from bunions, you can try a rubber gel insert that goes between the big toe and the second toe to prevent rubbing,” says Mr Kumar Kunasingam, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Schoen

Clinic. “Broader footwear may help and there are bunion-specific shoes.

“Occasionally, I would recommend exercise of the lesser muscle of the foot, which will help pull the big toe in different directions. However, this only helps some patients with flexible joints but not the vast majority.”

Surgery to remove the bunion and straighten the toe bone is another option, and can now be done as keyhole surgery. “The results are transformational and a real evolution from traditional open surgery,” adds Mr Kunasingam.

“After two weeks, patients can upgrade to stretchy training shoes and build up into normal footwear as swelling decreases and movement increases through the joint.”