Tailor’s Bunion
Effective Tailor’s Bunion Treatment in Sugar Land, TX
If Tailor’s bunion pain is preventing you from enjoying your hobbies and living your life to the fullest, our foot doctors at Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists can help. We specialize in surgical and nonsurgical Tailor’s bunion treatment options. We use state-of-the-art technology and techniques to quickly diagnose foot conditions and create a treatment plan that relieves foot pain.
What Is a Tailor’s Bunion?
Tailor’s bunion, also called a bunionette, is an enlargement of the head of the fifth metatarsal bone near the base of the little toe. Tailor’s bunions are not as common as bunions, which occur at the big toe, but both are similar in symptoms and causes.
The symptoms of Tailor’s bunions include redness, swelling, and pain at the site of the enlargement. These symptoms occur when wearing shoes that rub against the enlargement, irritating the soft tissues underneath the skin and producing inflammation.
Why do we call it a “tailor’s bunion”? The deformity received its name centuries ago when tailors sat cross-legged all day with the outside edge of their feet rubbing on the ground. This constant rubbing led to a painful bump at the base of the little toe.
Causes of Tailor’s Bunion
A tailor’s bunion is caused by added pressure on your pinkie toe. This can be due to:
- Poorly fitting shoes or shoes that are too tight
- Wearing narrow or pointed shoes that pinch your toes
- Standing for long periods of time
- Walking for long periods of time in ill-fitting shoes
- A health condition that causes inflammation of the joints
- Weight gain that puts added pressure on your toe joints
Tailor’s bunion can also be caused by an inherited change of the mechanical structure of the foot. A bunion can form when the fifth metatarsal bone starts to protrude outward while the little toe moves inward. This shift creates a bump on the outside of the foot that becomes irritated whenever a shoe presses against it.
You also may be at a higher risk of a Tailor’s bunion if your parents have a history of bunion problems or if you have a history of foot injuries. Athletes are also at a higher risk of developing bunions.
Symptoms of Tailor’s Bunion
The first symptom of a Tailor’s bunion is a growth at the base of your pinkie toe. Other symptoms include:
- Pinkie toe pain
- Foot pain along the outside of your foot
- Pressure when wearing shoes
- Swelling of your toe and/or foot
- Redness of your toe or foot
- Discoloration
- Corns or calluses on your pinkie toe
- Your pinkie toe looks crooked or bent
Tailor’s Bunion Treatment Options
Our goal is to find the least invasive, most effective treatment option for your condition. Once we have evaluated your condition, formally diagnosed Tailor’s bunion, and discussed your preferences, we will design your treatment plan. We offer surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for Tailor’s bunion:
Nonsurgical Tailor’s Bunion Treatments
- Shoe Modifications – Choose wide shoes, and avoid those with pointed toes or high heels.
- Oral Medications – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may help relieve the pain and inflammation.
- Padding – Pads placed around the area may help reduce pain.
- Icing – An ice pack may be applied to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Prevention – Taking early steps to prevent the development of Tailor’s bunion.
Surgical Tailor’s Bunion Treatments
We may recommend Tailor’s bunion surgery if conservative treatment options don’t work. Bunion correction surgery can relieve painful symptoms and make it easier to stand and walk. The only way to completely and permanently remove a bunion is with bunion surgery. However, we always opt for conservative or nonsurgical treatment options first and will only recommend surgery if you have severe symptoms that are preventing you from walking.
Can You Prevent a Tailor’s Bunion?
Some bunions are caused by outside influences that are unpreventable. However, we will answer any questions you have about bunion treatment and management and help you make changes that could prevent you from getting a Tailor’s bunion:
- Don’t wear tight shoes or shoes with pointed toes.
- Wear shoes that are wider than you think you need.
- Make sure you are wearing shoes that fit properly and are comfortable to sit, stand, and walk in.
- When buying new shoes, try them on at the end of the day.
- Wear custom orthotics if you have a history of bunions.
Schedule a Consultation for Tailor’s Bunion Treatment
Our foot doctors and staff at Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists have been providing foot care and treatment to the Greater Houston area for over a decade. We are committed to helping our patients find relief from foot pain and recover as quickly as possible from unformattable foot conditions.
Call us now or contact us online to schedule a consultation to discuss your treatment options for Tailor’s Bunion in Sugar Land, TX. We have an in-office X-ray and ultrasound machine and non-invasive bunion treatment options, including ultrasound and shockwave therapy, laser therapy, custom orthotics, and bunion surgery.