Pain around a bunion can come from several structures. The medial prominence may rub against footwear, a bursa may become inflamed, the joint may develop synovitis or arthritis, and pressure may transfer beneath the lesser metatarsals. Medication or injection treatment should therefore follow a diagnosis rather than be used simply because a bunion is visible.
Simple analgesics or anti-inflammatory medication may be appropriate for short-term symptom relief in some people. Suitability depends on medical history, other medicines, kidney and gastrointestinal health, cardiovascular risk and allergy status. Patients should seek advice from an appropriate health professional rather than assuming over-the-counter medication is safe for prolonged use.
An injection is not routinely required for hallux valgus. In selected cases, a clinician may consider an image-guided or accurately placed injection when inflammation within the joint or an adjacent bursa is believed to be a major pain generator. The potential benefits must be balanced against risks, and repeated injections should not substitute for addressing ongoing shoe pressure or structural overload.
Corticosteroid injections do not straighten the toe. They may also be less appropriate when pain is primarily mechanical or when surgery is being considered in the near future. Other injection products are sometimes marketed for bunions, but evidence should be assessed carefully and claims of structural correction treated with caution.
If symptoms repeatedly return as soon as medication wears off, the treatment plan should be reassessed. Persistent pain may indicate that footwear, activity, arthritis, transfer loading or the deformity itself requires a different approach.