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Oh gees. I have mild bunions, too! My left is worse. I've just sort of dealt with it. I wear high heels for work and sometimes the cut of the shoe totally aggravates my left bunion. I've also heard that the surgery and recovery time is tough so I'm just not doing anything. I'm lucky enough to have a husband who rubs my feet when I ask. I also was blessed with bone spurs on my heels. I did have one of those cut out and the recovery was painful and long. AND the bone spur grew back in record time. So I'm opting to totally leave my feet a lone at this point and continue to wear whatever shoes I want.

typically there is a reason the joint is being stressed and a bunion forms. As a PT I see patients all of the time with them. There is typically something else at play which causes the toe to veer outwards and a bunion to form from the repeated stress. A lot of times the big toe cannot bend backwards during walking so instead it bends out. Sometimes people have flat feet which causes them to "spin" off their big toe instead of rolling off of it.
Also, quite often, people's calf muscle is WAY too tight which again causes that spinning motion off the big toe in order to walk.
So, what I'm saying is, I'd go see a physical therapist to see if they can figure out what's breaking down mechanically in your lower leg. The bunion is merely a painful symptom of something else occurring and unfortunately won't be fixed unless the other mechanical issues are addressed.

Yeah and I don't recommend bunioneictomies unless all other options have failed. Once they cut up your foot it is never the same. Healing time is ridiculously long and outcomes are meh at best.

@MrsSCB: yep def stretch. I really like the pro stretch. They sell it on amazon.
Sometimes a custom orthotic can help but they are also $$$. Make sure you are in nice wide well fitting athletic shoes on your walking commute (this is non-negotiable!). High heels yeah, they are just going to hurt. They keep me in business though

I have pretty severe ones (pain can wake me at night). The over the counter stuff doesn't help me. I used to work for an orthopedic surgeon and decided against surgery, just grin and bear it... And wide shoes. And I know on days I go more than 5 miles, it will hurt, but after 20 years I've just set a new baseline for my own internal sensor of foot pain.

I had bunionectomies on both feet. The pain and inability to find comfy shoes was aggravating. One foot is GREAT. The other is slowly going back to bunionland. I wish I would have used the same doctor both times.

@Anagram: oddly enough I have the opposite issue -- high arches. I think I don't wear shoes with enough support, and also I used to not warm up or cool down at all when I'd go for runs Stretching has really made a difference! (who knew? lol) Helped with shin splints, too.

@MrsSCB: I am super prone to shin splints, too. From the flat feet--I didn't know people with super high arches have similar problems, but it makes sense because my mom has super high arches.