I don't know the type of surgery I had, but I did have rather large bunions removed from the outsides of my feet (below little toe) when I was about 19 years old. I used to alpine ski like a maniac, but when I skied all day not realizing my boots were on the wrong feet, I realized I'd been dealing with the pain too long!

I had to wear goofy styrofoam shoes for a couple months (crutches for a few weeks), and x-rays of my feet show twist-tie type wires in the bones of my feet, but I've been pain-free since. I was SUPPOSED to get orthotics, but never did, and now that I'm pushing 40, I say, "meh".

Try the suggestions above, but don't rule out surgery.