Bunion treatment & surgery · Portland
Bunion pain? Same-week evaluation with a foot & ankle surgeon.
A bunion won’t reverse on its own, but you have far more options than you might think — and most don’t start with surgery. Dr. Zac Egidi, an experienced, board-certified foot & ankle surgeon at Pearl Foot & Ankle in Portland, has same-week openings to evaluate your bunion, explain your choices in plain language, and build a plan around your comfort and goals.
★★★★★ 4.9 from 450+ reviews across our Pearl locations Board-Certified (ABFAS) OATH Surgery Center partner
Understanding the condition
What a bunion is
A bunion (hallux valgus) is a bony bump that forms at the base of the big toe, where the joint drifts out of alignment and the big toe begins to angle toward the second toe. It develops gradually, often influenced by foot structure, mechanics, and sometimes footwear. Over time the joint can enlarge and become tender, and the shift can crowd the smaller toes. Because bunions are progressive, an early evaluation gives you the widest range of options — and the clearest picture of whether conservative care alone can keep you comfortable. (For more background, see the AAOS patient guide to bunions.)
Symptoms to watch for
Signs your bunion deserves a look
- A visible, bony bump at the base of the big toe
- Redness, swelling, or soreness around the big-toe joint
- Pain that worsens in tight or narrow shoes
- The big toe angling toward or overlapping the second toe
- Stiffness in the big-toe joint or a callus where toes rub
- Difficulty finding comfortable shoes
Even if the bump isn’t painful yet, a same-week evaluation helps you understand how it’s progressing and what you can do now to stay ahead of it.
Conservative care comes first
Conservative-first treatment options
Surgery is not the automatic answer. For many patients, non-surgical care controls symptoms and keeps them active. Dr. Egidi typically starts here:
- Footwear guidance — wider toe boxes and supportive shoes to reduce pressure
- Custom orthotics to improve mechanics and offload the joint
- Padding and spacers to protect the bump and ease friction
- Anti-inflammatory measures for flare-ups
- Activity adjustments to reduce irritation
These steps don’t change the bone structure, but they can meaningfully reduce day-to-day discomfort — and for plenty of patients, that’s enough.
If more is needed
When bunion surgery is considered
When a bunion causes ongoing pain that limits your activity, or when conservative care no longer keeps you comfortable, surgical correction may be the right conversation. Modern bunion surgery realigns the joint to address the deformity at its source, and the specific procedure is tailored to your anatomy and severity. As a full-scope foot & ankle surgeon with a focus on reconstruction, Dr. Egidi can guide you through the entire path — from the first conservative visit to surgical correction and recovery — with procedures performed at our partner facility, OATH Surgery Center. You’ll get a candid, plain-language explanation of what surgery would and wouldn’t do before any decision is made. No one pushes you toward the operating room.
Dealing with heel pain too? See our guide to heel pain & plantar fasciitis care.
Your surgical team
An experienced surgical team — with openings this week
Dr. Zac Egidi is a board-certified (ABFAS) foot & ankle surgeon with 8+ years in practice and hundreds of surgeries, with a particular emphasis on foot & ankle reconstruction. He was recruited to Portland to expand new-patient access, with open, same-week availability for Beaverton, Cedar Mill, Bethany, and the surrounding area. Because bunions are progressive, evaluating yours sooner — rather than waiting weeks for an opening elsewhere — gives you more control over the outcome and the timeline. Pearl Foot & Ankle is an independent, board-certified practice with a 4.9★ patient reputation for care that’s thorough, unrushed, and clearly explained.
Zac Egidi, DPM
Board-Certified (ABFAS) Foot & Ankle Surgeon
- 8+ years in practice — hundreds of foot & ankle surgeries
- Full-scope medical, surgical & sports foot & ankle care
- Same-week new-patient availability
- Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine; surgical residency (chief resident), LECOM Health
Timothy Mineo, DPM, FACFAS
Founder · Dual Board-Certified (ABFAS)
- 1,500+ surgeries, including total ankle replacement
- Dual board-certified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot & ankle surgery
- Founded Pearl Foot & Ankle and leads its surgical team
- Fellow, American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons
One practice, one team: every treatment plan — from a first office visit through surgery at our partner facility, OATH Surgery Center — is backed by both surgeons’ combined experience.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions
How soon can I get my bunion evaluated?
Dr. Egidi currently has same-week openings. Call (503) 284-2000 or book online.
Do I need surgery for a bunion?
Not necessarily. Many patients manage bunion symptoms with conservative care. Surgery is considered when pain limits your activity and non-surgical options aren’t keeping you comfortable — and it’s always your decision.
Where is bunion surgery performed?
When surgery is the right choice, procedures are performed at our partner facility, OATH Surgery Center, so your care stays coordinated from evaluation through recovery.
Do you take my insurance?
Yes — Pearl Foot & Ankle is in-network with 200+ insurance plans, including Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Providence, Moda Health, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna, PacificSource, and Medicare & Medicare Advantage — and every Pearl provider, including Dr. Egidi, is credentialed with these plans. Verify your plan instantly on Zocdoc, or call (503) 284-2000 and we’ll confirm your benefits before your visit.
Where are you located?
12672 NW Barnes Rd #100, Portland, OR 97229 — close to Beaverton, Cedar Mill, and Bethany.
How long is recovery from bunion surgery?
Bone healing generally takes about 6–12 weeks, with most patients back in regular shoes around the 6-week mark and swelling gradually resolving over several months. Recovery varies with the procedure type — minimally invasive techniques often allow earlier protected walking than traditional approaches. Dr. Zac Egidi, a board-certified (ABFAS) foot and ankle surgeon, can walk you through a realistic week-by-week timeline for your specific case. Call (503) 284-2000.
Can a bunion be fixed without surgery?
No brace or splint can reverse the bone alignment of a bunion, but many people manage symptoms well without surgery — wider toe-box shoes, padding, orthotics, and activity changes can meaningfully reduce pain. Surgery is typically reserved for bunions that hurt daily despite those measures. Dr. Egidi offers both conservative care and surgical correction, so the recommendation fits your situation rather than a default. Appointments are often available same-week: (503) 284-2000.
What is minimally invasive bunion surgery, and am I a candidate?
Minimally invasive (keyhole) techniques correct the bunion through very small incisions, which for appropriate candidates can mean less soft-tissue disruption and earlier protected weight-bearing. Not every bunion is suited to it — severity and joint condition matter. Dr. Egidi performs outpatient bunion procedures in partnership with OATH Surgery Center and can tell you which approach fits your foot. Call (503) 284-2000.
Will my bunion come back after surgery?
Recurrence is possible but uncommon with modern procedures that correct the alignment at its source, and choices like proper footwear afterward help protect the result. Your surgeon should explain the recurrence considerations for the specific technique recommended for you. Dr. Egidi reviews this openly at consultation — call (503) 284-2000 to schedule.
Same-week booking
Get your bunion evaluated this week.
Book your visit online in real time through Zocdoc — pick the appointment slot that works for you, no phone tag. Prefer to talk to someone? Call us and we’re happy to help.
- New patients welcome
- Most insurance accepted
- Same-week appointments often available
- Beaverton · Cedar Mill · Bethany · Portland
Book a Same-Week Visit
See real-time openings and reserve your visit securely through Zocdoc, the practice’s online scheduler.
📅 Book Online with ZocdocPrefer to talk to someone?
📞 Call (503) 284-2000
Pearl Foot & Ankle · 12672 NW Barnes Rd #100, Portland, OR 97229 · (503) 284-2000
Mon–Fri 8–5 · Not an emergency service — for a medical emergency, call 911.
The information on this page is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice; it does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Appointment availability varies and is not guaranteed. Individual results vary. For a medical emergency, call 911.