Tailor’s Bunion

Tailor’s bunion is a prominence or bump on the 5^th toe joint (similar to that of a bunion on the 1^st toe).  It is usually aggravated by wearing tight shoes, resulting constant pressure and pain. Tailor’s bunion is less common as regular bunion; however, they are similar in cause and symptoms. Tailor’s bunion received its name centuries ago, because it occurred regularly in tailors who sat cross-legged all day with the outside edge of their feet rubbing on the ground.

Symptoms include:

Pain, swelling and redness over the enlarged joint

Risk Factors:

• Irritation of tight or narrow shoes
• Poor biomechanics (eg. Supinated foot)
• Poor footwear (eg. tight toe box)
• Family history
• Bony spur

Assessment – The podiatrists at toe-tal will diagnose the condition through a physical examination and biomechanical assessment, and go through all the necessary treatments listed below to help get you on the right path. 

Treatment:

1. Apply ICE over the painful area for 15 minutes
2. Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain, maximum 7 days
3. Wearing the correct socks to reduce bunion pain by reducing the friction by providing cushioning. It is important to choose socks with low friction, so seams over the bunions and cushions over the bunion area from shoe pressure.
4. Using a pad (gel or foam) over the bunion deformity
5. Footwear advice/modification – avoidance of narrow fitting shoes (talk to the podiatrist at toe-tal about what footwear suits your foot best).
6. Orthotic therapy may be prescribed to help protect the joint and redistribute pressure elsewhere
7. Corticosteroid injections may help reduce inflammation around joint
8. Bunion surgery (of course only after trying all these conservative treatments first)