The decision to treat a bunion depends on several concerns: level of pain, cosmetic appearance, physical or potential joint damage. Your decision to treat your bunion may depend on one or more of the following factors. Most individuals experience a portion of all of these issues.

Level of Pain: Not all bunions are painful. However, if the bump becomes large enough the outside of the foot can become painful and aggravated by tight shoes. Many times pain will also be emanating from the inside of the joint as an additional symptom. This is a sign of joint degeneration (arthritis) due to abnormal friction from within the joint, a direct result of the joint jamming (see "What is it?").  Pain is the most common reason for addressing bunion treatment.

Cosmetic Appearance: As the bump becomes larger the it becomes more unsightly and in some cases disfiguring. 

Physical Joint Damage: Recalling that the cause of acquired bunions is an abnormally functioning stiff joint damage inside the joint will eventually occur. This is called degenerative joint disease, commonly known as arthritis. DJD is a painful condition whenever the joint moves or is moved too much.  

Potential Joint Damage: In time, joint damage is inevitable during the formation of a bunion.  The rapid progression of a bunion and the specific mechanical character greatly influences the potential damage to the joint.  With today's very active society, the consequence of an arthritic joint can lead to substantial lifestyle changes resultant from pain and disability.  Many cases can be cited where the only obstruction for a 70 year old person to perform physical exercise is a bunion, yet they cannot undergo correction because of a medical condition prohibiting them from elective surgery. Therefore, it is important to weigh the total lifestyle impact of bunions before it's too late.

Should You Treat a Bunion Conservatively or Surgically?

This depends on how much the bunion bothers you (physically or cosmetically).  Bunions can be painful.  Bunions can make life difficult to continue with active lifestyles by causing pain or making it difficult to wear preferred shoes.  

The following are measures that you can take if you have bunions:

1. Wear wider shoes or better fitting shoes. Have you shoe modified to accommodate your bunion.

2. Place a pad over the prominent bump.  

3. Decrease your level of activity.

4. Get prescription orthotics to return the joint back to normal function.

5. Take pain medications (prescription or over-the-counter).

6. Have the joint injected with cortisone if extremely inflamed and painful.

7. Do nothing about it.

If the above measure don't help you then,

8. Have the bunion surgically corrected.

What about laser?

Technology is constantly advancing. However, don't be fooled!  Laser cannot be used to reduce a bunion because bone is involved in the process of correcting a bunion.  Current laser technology is not capable of cutting bone without damage to the bone itself.