Bunions can cause pain, swelling, and changes to the shape of your foot. At Stride Forward Podiatry, Dr. Martha Holzworth provides expert care to help you relieve discomfort and prevent the condition from getting worse. Whether you’re looking for non-surgical relief or considering minimally invasive bunion surgery, this guide will help you understand your options.
Bunions can cause pain, swelling, and changes to the shape of your foot. At Stride Forward Podiatry, Dr. Martha Holzworth provides expert care to help you relieve discomfort and prevent the condition from getting worse. Whether you’re looking for non-surgical relief or considering minimally invasive bunion surgery, this guide will help you understand your options.
A bunion, also called hallux valgus, is a bony bump that forms at the base of your big toe. It happens when the big toe slowly shifts toward the second toe, causing the joint to stick outward. This change can create pain, swelling, redness, and difficulty wearing normal shoes.
Bunions don’t appear overnight — they develop gradually.
Genetics, foot structure, or certain shoes can worsen the deformity.
Early signs include redness, pressure, and mild pain.
Severe bunions may require minimally invasive bunion surgery.
Learn more about early signs on our Bunions Early Stages blog.
A bunion, also called hallux valgus, is a bony bump that forms at the base of your big toe. It happens when the big toe slowly shifts toward the second toe, causing the joint to stick outward. This change can create pain, swelling, redness, and difficulty wearing normal shoes.
Bunions don’t appear overnight — they develop gradually.
Genetics, foot structure, or certain shoes can worsen the deformity.
Early signs include redness, pressure, and mild pain.
Severe bunions may require minimally invasive bunion surgery.
Learn more about early signs on our Bunions Early Stages blog.
Bunion symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that limits daily activities. Recognizing symptoms early helps prevent progression.
Symptoms include:
Bunions form when the bones inside the foot shift out of alignment. Several factors increase the risk:
Many patients find relief without surgery. Non-surgical treatments focus on reducing pressure and improving foot alignment.
Options include:
These treatments don’t “fix” the bunion permanently, but they can ease pain and slow progression.
When pain is severe or the bunion continues to progress, surgery may be recommended.
At Stride Forward Podiatry, we specialize in advanced minimally invasive bunion correction techniques that realign the foot through small incisions while preserving surrounding soft tissues.
In many cases, permanent metal hardware such as plates or screws is not required. Instead, we utilize precise bone realignment techniques that allow the foot to heal naturally, minimizing disruption to normal anatomy.
This approach is designed to reduce post-operative pain, swelling, and scarring while maintaining excellent correction and long-term outcomes.
What to expect:
Most patients walk the same day
Recovery improves week by week
Provides long-term correction
Low chance of recurrence with proper technique
Learn about minimally invasive bunion surgery
Our minimally invasive approach focuses on precise correction through small incisions, reduced soft-tissue disruption, and — when appropriate — eliminating the need for permanent implants.
Traditional bunion surgery often requires larger incisions and permanent metal hardware to stabilize the correction.
Many patients experience a smoother recovery, less swelling, and a faster return to regular footwear compared to traditional open procedures.
Recovery depends on the severity of the bunion and the surgical technique used. Minimally invasive procedures often allow faster healing.
General timeline:
Week 1–2: Mild swelling, limited activity
Week 3–4: Increased walking, reduced discomfort
Week 6+: Normal daily activity
3 months: Most patients feel fully recovered
Your feet deserve expert, compassionate care.
At Stride Forward Podiatry, Dr. Martha Holzworth specializes in diagnosing and treating bunion deformities with both conservative and advanced surgical techniques.
Why patients trust us:
Experienced bunion specialist
Focus on minimally invasive surgery
Personalized treatment plans
Modern X-ray imaging and diagnostic tools
Convenient Boca Raton location
Bunions are caused by bone misalignment in the foot. Genetics, foot shape, and tight shoes are common triggers.
Yes. If your parents or grandparents had bunions, you may be more likely to develop them.
No. Bunions don’t reverse naturally. Non-surgical treatments can relieve pain, but only surgery can correct the deformity.
It’s a modern technique that uses tiny incisions to realign the bone with less pain, less swelling, and faster recovery.
Most patients walk the same day. Swelling improves week by week, and recovery continues over 6–12 weeks.
They are unlikely to return when correct alignment is restored and proper footwear is used.
MIS uses small incisions and minimal hardware. Lapiplasty stabilizes the entire metatarsal using plates. Dr. Holzworth recommends the best option based on your foot structure.
Yes — Stride Forward Podiatry in Boca Raton offers advanced minimally invasive bunion surgery.
While many bunions can be corrected without permanent metal hardware, not every deformity or foot structure is a candidate. In some cases, fixation may be required to ensure long-term stability and optimal correction.
A comprehensive in-office evaluation and imaging will determine the most appropriate surgical plan for your foot.
