Have you ever suffered from sharp, consistent, or throbbing foot pain? If so, then you probably understand why someone with bunions would try just about anything to get rid of them. Over time, bunions can increase in size and become very painful. So it’s no surprise that there are a myriad of potential treatment options for bunions. One of the more popular methods for dealing with bunions are bunion pads. But just how effective are they? The answer, unfortunately, is not very. While bunion pads may provide individuals with some temporary comfort, they are not capable of reducing or reversing bunions. We’ll explain further here: 

Non-Surgical Bunion Treatments

The impulse to avoid surgery at all costs is an understandable one, to a degree. Many individuals are hesitant to go under the knife –– particularly for an issue like a bunion. As such, there is a great demand for non-surgical means of curing, reversing, and/or reducing bunion pain. Though many such products have been developed, including pads, cushions, correctors, and sleeves –– none can provide long-term pain relief and none can reduce bunion size or severity. 

Most over-the-counter bunion products work primarily to address short-term pain. Specifically, bunion pads act to provide an extra layer of cushion between a bunion and a person’s shoe. In this way, a bunion pad can cut down on friction between feet and shoes and thus alleviate some discomfort for the moment. 

It’s important to keep in mind that bunions form as a result of internal misalignments in the foot. External bunion pads, cushions, and sleeves do not act to correct those internal issues. Worst of all, bunions may still grow in size and severity even if you use bunion pads. 

Bunion Surgery

There are many variations of bunion surgery. In general, though, most bunion surgeries involve the removal of the bunion (known as a bunionectomy) and the correction of the internal misalignment of the foot. By both removing the bunion and addressing the root causes of it, surgeons are able to eliminate bunion pain and drastically lower the risk of bunion recurrence. Bunion surgery is the only way to get rid of a bunion for good. 


While both open-foot bunion surgery and minimally invasive bunion surgery can act to remove bunions and relieve pain, minimally invasive procedures are much more patient-friendly and effective. Unlike open-foot bunion surgeries, which often involve large incisions, painful scars, and lengthy recovery periods, minimally invasive bunion surgery is an outpatient procedure that significantly reduces both residual foot pain and scarring. 

In addition, most of our patients are able to walk out of the operating room immediately following their surgery. Thanks to minimally invasive techniques, surgeons are able to remove bunions and correct joint, muscle, and tendon misalignments through extremely small incisions. If you’re tired of bunion pain, but don’t want to spend months dealing with extensive recovery, then minimally invasive surgery could be perfect for you!

Contact Us

At Northwest Surgery Center, we’re experts in the field of minimally invasive bunion surgery. Our team has years of experience, and we have the skills, knowledge, and tools to ensure you’re able to get back on your feet –– pain-free –– as soon as possible. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.