Bunions (Hallux Valgus) — Podiatry in Canary Wharf, London

No. Conservative podiatry cannot straighten a bunion or reverse the deformity — only corrective surgery realigns the joint. What we can do is reduce pain and pressure with footwear advice, padding, offloading, and orthoses, and help protect the joint. The NHS is clear that non-surgical care manages symptoms rather than curing the bunion.

No. Bunion correction is a surgical procedure carried out by a foot and ankle surgeon, not by podiatrists at our clinic. Our role is conservative management — easing your symptoms and protecting the joint. If your bunion is painful and limiting despite good conservative care, we will advise you on seeking an orthopaedic referral for a surgical opinion.

Roomier, wider, lower-heeled shoes and bunion pads can genuinely reduce friction and pain, and night splints may feel comfortable. However, the evidence does not show that splints, spacers, or shoe changes straighten a bunion or stop it progressing; the NHS frames these as relieving symptoms, not correcting the deformity. We will help you choose footwear and devices that protect the joint.

Seek same-day care if the joint becomes hot, red, swollen, and increasingly painful, especially with fever, as this may signal infection, or if you have sudden severe pain. People with diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or neuropathy should see a podiatrist promptly for any skin breakdown, ulcer, or non-healing sore over a bunion, as these need urgent assessment.

No GP referral is needed. You can self-refer and book directly through our online booking system, and one of our HCPC-registered podiatrists will assess the joint, your footwear, and your gait. We will explain what conservative care can realistically achieve and, where a surgical opinion is warranted, advise you on an orthopaedic referral.