A Tailor’s Bunion, also referred to as a bunionette, occurs when there is a misalignment of the bones on your small toe. When the bones shift, it causes the joint to stick out where your toe meets your foot. Individuals living with a Tailor’s Bunion will notice that their small toe turns inwards in the direction of their other toes.
A Tailor’s Bunion is not to get confused with a regular bunion. The main difference between the two is that a bunion is a deformity of the bone at the bottom of the big toe that causes the big toe to turn in towards the other four toes, often overlapping with the second toe. On the other hand, a bunionette is at the base of the little toe.
Another important difference to make note of is the size of the bunion. Regular bunions are relatively larger in size, while the protrusion of a bunionette is smaller in contrast.
If you’re an individual that lives in Milford, PA, Middletown, NY, or Warwick, NY, living with a Tailor’s bunion, read on to learn what causes it, at-home remedies to reduce symptoms, surgery options, and risks to consider.
What Causes Tailor’s Bunion?
As stated previously, a tailor’s bunion happens when there is a misalignment of the bones in your small toe. This misalignment can be caused by a variety of factors. However, the leading cause of this condition is wearing narrow shoes. If you wear high heels, your risk of a Tailor’s Bunion is even greater.
This is because high heels leave less room for your toes. As a result, your small toe gets pushed into your other toes. Here are some other causes of a Tailor’s Bunion to know.
- Living with a hereditary condition that affects the bones in your feet.
- Having a lower-than-normal fifth metatarsal bone.
- Walking with your feet leaning out (inverted foot)
- Having loose ligaments (splayed foot)
- Having arthritis
- Tight calf muscles that affect how you stand or walk
At-Home Remedies to Reduce Symptoms
Depending on the severity of your bunion, it can cause pain and discomfort that disrupts day-to-day activities. If you’re looking to reduce your symptoms, then read on to learn a few at-home remedies you can incorporate to help you manage.
Elevate with an Ice Pack: A doctor may recommend that you ice your affected foot three to four times a day, doing this for 10 minutes at a time. While icing your affected foot, it’s a good idea to elevate the foot as this can help reduce any swelling you may have.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Taking NSAIDs can potentially reduce pain and swelling associated with Tailor’s Bunion. Popular NSAIDs include naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil).
Improving your strength and flexibility: Improving strength specifically in the foot and calves can reduce symptoms. Ultimately, this can help take pressure off of your bunion.
Arch Support Insoles: Consider purchasing shoe insoles that support the arches of the feet. This can help reduce pressure on the bunion.
Change of Shoes: Choosing to wear comfortable shoes that give your toes enough room can help relieve pressure. As stated previously, be sure to avoid wearing narrow shoes or anything that can squeeze your toes together.
Toe separators: One last at-home remedy to consider is toe separators. Wearing toe separators while you sleep may reduce the progression of a tailor’s bunion over time.
Tailor’s Bunion Surgery
Sometimes, at-home remedies do not provide enough relief for a Tailor’s Bunion. If you find that your bunion is causing you too much discomfort and you want to correct the issue, it’s important to know that you have options. In fact, there are options for surgery regardless of the severity of your bunion. With that said, we’re going to share what surgery options are available based on the severity of your bunion.
Mild Bunions
For individuals with mild bunions, a surgeon may remove a portion of the affected bone. The surgeon will also realign the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the foot that shifted as a result of the Tailor’s Bunion. Ultimately, this will help secure the joints between your toes and improve the chances of your foot healing.
Moderate Bunions
A common characteristic of a moderate Tailor’s Bunion is a shifted foot. If you have a moderate bunion, a surgeon will cut the bone and move it back into position. Additionally, the surgeon will reposition the ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Severe Bunions
In the case of a severe bunion, the bone growth may be removed. However, the surgeon may also need to cut your remaining healthy bone to make it fit properly. This will allow your bones to shift back into place along with your ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Risks to Consider
There are a few risks associated with a Tailor’s Bunion. For instance, deciding not to treat your bunion can cause it to worsen and lead to long-term pain and discomfort. This can lead to a change in the way you walk due to how your toes become aligned.
In addition to this, there are a few surgical risk factors to consider, just as with any surgery. For instance, you can potentially experience numbness if you get a pinched nerve during the procedure. Other complications of surgery can include swelling. While swelling is generally normal after surgery, it should not occur long-term.
Another risk to consider is having delayed healing. With that said, be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions, get plenty of rest, and avoid putting pressure on your foot.
One last risk factor to consider is a potential infection. It’s important to note that anyone with an open wound runs a risk of infection. For this reason, it’s important to watch your surgical site for common signs of infection such as redness, swelling, inflammation, and pain that seem to get worse over time.
A Tailor’s Bunion generally does not pose any threats to your health, but it can impact your quality of life. These bunions can provide mild to severe discomfort depending on the severity of your condition.
If you have a Tailor’s Bunion or suspect you have one, be sure to talk with a trusted physician who can examine your foot and develop the right treatment plan for your needs. Contact us today to find out how we can help!
