 And some people just have foot structures that are more prone to developing bunions. It's like having a car with slight alignment issue. Over time it can cause wear and tear. Even conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to bunions as they cause inflammation as well as joint damage. So one day you notice that there's a visible bump on the side of your big toe joint. Maybe there's even some redness, swelling or soreness around that joint.