Tailor's Bunion Diagnosis and Easy Home Treatment Options

The tailor’s bunion is a fairly common foot complaint, producing a deformity, swelling, inflammation, and pain at the fifth metatarsal head on the outside of the foot.  The deformity is easy to recognise due to the location, and even a slight displacement of the bone or outgrowth of new bone is easy to spot, making early diagnosis and treatment simple and effective. However many people do not seek treatment and allow the condition to develop further, making home treatment far less effective.

The condition is not always painful initially, part of the reason why many do not seek medical advice early on in tailor’s bunion formation. Over time, as the tailors bunion develops, pain can be considerable. As the deformity increases in size, it rubs against the side of the shoe and can become inflamed and swollen, with the skin breaking leading to infection. Treatment for severe conditions is with bunion surgery, or a bunionectomy, which serves to realign the bones of the little toe and in some cases, involves the removal of excess bone, or the deconstruction of the joint pinning the small toe in place.

However in most cases treatment is non invasive and easy to conduct at home, with a range of cheap products which serve to align the bones of the foot correctly, cushioning the bunion to prevent pain, and allowing the problem to heal naturally. Stretching exercises to encourage more movement back into the toe can help to coax it back into the correct position.

The most important treatment which will prevent the condition from deteriorating is a change of footwear. Whilst there are many specialist bunion shoes on the market, in most cases, just changing to a pair of old shoes with a wide toe box and flexible uppers is sufficient to ease pain and prevent the condition from getting any worse. Shoes such as Crocs are a great choice, which allow the bones of the foot to be aligned correctly, with soft uppers which do not cause undue pressure on the joints.

To encourage the bones back into a natural position, toe straighteners and toe stretchers can be used. Toe straighteners hold the toe in the correct position, whilst toe stretchers help to increase flexibility in the ligaments to allow the toe to align naturally. One of the most effective tailor’s bunion treatment options is with a tailor’s bunion splint. Generally worn at night, the splint keeps the toe straight and in the correct position for a continuous 8 hours of treatment when the weight is off the feet. The muscles become more relaxed at night, making it a highly effective time to treat the condition. When used in conjunction with bunion pads in the day, the condition can well abate without the need for medical attention.

If you think you might have a tailor’s bunion forming, it is wise to get a medical check up, as treatment in the early stages is far easier and cheaper.