A bunion is a bony bump that forms at the joint on the big toe. Bunions can be hereditary, caused by wearing tight shoes that are pointed like high-heels, or with arthritis. Bunions can be very painful. Wearing a bunion splint can help you in 3 ways: pain relief, bunion protection, and bunion correction. A bunion brace can help re-align your big toe and help relieve pain. Surgery is typically a last resort and many people find a bunion splint to be helpful in treating bunions.