Bunions

Bunions services offered in Holladay and West Jordan, UT


If you have a painful, bony protrusion at the base of your big toe joint, it could be a bunion. Salt Lake City Foot and Ankle Clinic has two locations in Murray / Holladay and West Jordan, Utah for convenient evaluation. Our podiatrists Dr. Christiaan Goebel, DPM and Dr. Weston Packard, DPM, and their skilled team diagnose and treat bunions to remove your pain and restore your foot function. No to mention getting you back into normal size shoes. Call the office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.

Bunions Q&A

What are bunions?

Bunions are bony bumps that appear near the base of your big toe joints. They develop when bones in your foot move out of an ideal alignment, causing the end of your big toe to pull inward and the base of the joint to stick out and become painful. Small bunions could appear on your little toe joint. Treatment helps reduce pain and your risk of complications.

What are the symptoms of bunions?

Common symptoms you may notice because of a bunion include:

  • A bump at the base of your big toe
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Pain when walking or jogging
  • Soreness
  • Redness
  • Pain
  • Corns
  • Calluses
  • Intermittent or ongoing discomfort
  • Limited movement of the affected toe

When left untreated, bunions could cause joint inflammation, hammertoe, swelling and pain in the ball of your foot, and difficulty staying active.

What are common risk factors for bunions?

While the exact cause of bunions isn’t clear, common causes and risk factors may include:

  • Foot stress
  • Injuries
  • Genetics
  • Foot or joint deformities
  • Poor-fitting shoes
  • Arthritis

Wearing comfortable shoes and reducing repetitive stress on your feet might lessen your chance of developing bunions.

How does my provider diagnose bunions?

Your Salt Lake City Foot and Ankle Clinic specialist can diagnose bunions after reviewing your medical history, discussing your symptoms, and evaluating your feet and toes during a physical exam. They may recommend X-rays to determine the severity of a bunion and the best way to treat it.

How are bunions treated?

To treat bunions and reduce ongoing discomfort, your specialist at Salt Lake City Foot and Ankle Clinic may suggest:

  • Bunion padding
  • Medications
  • Shoe inserts
  • Changing your shoes
  • Ice
  • Rest
  • Physical therapy
  • Surgery

While often a last resort, surgery is sometimes the best way to fully restore the structure and function of your big toe joint. Your foot specialist removes or repairs tissues in the joint to reduce inflammation, pain, and the risk of future problems.

To get treated for painful bunions, call the Salt Lake City Foot and Ankle Clinic office or schedule an appointment online today.