Tailors Bunion Information

Tailors Bunion

The tailors bunion is a little known problem of the little toe which can be the source of big time pain. When big time small toe pain strikes, it can be surprising that such a small problem can be so painful, however that’s the extremities for you, belying their small size and producing major pain.

The tailor’s bunion is so called due to it being a common complaint from tailors of old. The profession saw tailors sitting in a cross legged position for long periods with the joints of the toes pressed against a cold hard floor. The weight of the body shifts when sitting in this position and pressure placed on the outside of the foot saw the formation of this disfiguring condition on both feet. It is this pressure which is the main cause of tailor’s bunion formation; although more recently the pressure comes from tight shoes, such as fashionable stiletto shoes with unforgiving uppers and a narrow toe box. It is no surprise that the majority of sufferers of the condition are women in the west, who tend to choose shoes for fashion rather than comfort.

If experiencing pain in the little toe, or more specifically on the outside of the foot at the joint of the foot and small toe and there is a lump, chances are that you have a tailor’s bunion forming and corrective steps will be required to prevent the condition becoming more serious and requiring surgery.

The good news is that the treatment methods are mostly simple and do not require extensive time and money to be spent on doctors and surgery. A few dollars spent on one of the many home treatment methods will be all that is required to reduce the symptoms and see the condition get better over a relatively short time frame.

A change in footwear is first on the list of home treatments, and opting for a shoe with a wide toe box and forgiving uppers will ensure that the condition does not deteriorate further.

When the feet and toes are allowed to have a more natural positioning tailor’s bunion symptoms will be reduced. If combined with inexpensive bunion pads to give extra cushioning, pain from friction and pressure will be limited. The use of over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen can be used to control any pain and help to reduce inflammation; however the doctor may well prescribe something a little stronger in the first instance if the pain is chronic.

As the swelling reduces bunion night splints and toe straighteners can be used for day and night treatment. Both use the same methods for correction, which is to keep the toes in the correct position and allow for the natural healing process to take place.

If the problem is allowed to develop for a long period, tailor’s bunion surgery may be the best option, however this is best avoided if at all possible. The recovery period for tailor’s bunion surgery can take some time and will involve time off the feet and time on crutches. Surgery is prescribed when there has been excessive bone growth at the site of the bunion which prevents the toe from returning to a natural position. The surgical procedure will shave off the excess bone, and may reconstruct the joint to reposition the toe. It is an unpleasant as it sounds and is usually only when other non-invasive treatment methods have all failed.