Symptoms

Your bunion may not cause any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Swelling or enlargement of the metatarsophalangeal joint at the base of the big toe.
• Displacement of the big toe toward the other toes.
• Joint redness.
• Joint pain or stiffness.
• Skin irritation over the bunion.

A bunionette causes symptoms that occur at the base of the little toe.

Bunions and their symptoms develop gradually. They are sometimes confused with symptoms of gout, but gout pain comes on suddenly and can be more severe than bunion pain. Gout pain and swelling tend to occur in episodes, while bunion pain is more constant. Unlike a bunion, gout does not usually cause joint deformity. For more information, see the topic Gout.