Little Bunion, Big Bunion

We’ve all heard of bunions and often think of it as a foot condition that exclusively affects our big toes.

Did you know that you can also develop bunions in your pinky toe?

Considering our pinky toes are much smaller than our big toes, the bunion itself is smaller and less noticeable as well. It can be difficult to identify the discomfort that comes from a tailor’s bunion and, as a result, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. The name of this condition was derived from a tailor often sitting in positions that put their feet at risk for developing a bunion on their pinky toe!

How can you tell if you should be on the lookout for a tailor’s bunion?

• Do ‘bad feet’ run in your family? If your mom or grandfather has trouble with their feet or odd structural deformities in their feet or ankles, you might be at risk.

• Have your feet gone flat? Also known as fallen arches, our feet ‘go flat’ for several reasons - shoes with poor support, excessive weight, going barefoot too often, etc.

• When you walk in regular shoes, do you ever feel tightness or burning in your calves?

• Have you ever injured your foot, especially areas closest to your pinky toe?

All of these signs and more can give you a hint that it might be time to have your pinky toe looked at by our Foot Doctors When it comes to visual signs and symptoms, these are the top 4 things to look out for:

• A swollen lump on the outer edge of your foot, closest to your pinky toe.

• Redness, tenderness, or painfulness near or on the bump.

• Light to moderate swelling on or around that area of your feet, especially after a long day.

• A visual difference in the size or shape of your pinky toe area between your two feet.

While a tailor bunion often won’t become painful until years into having them, it’s a good idea to proactively deal with it and slow the process. Our podiatry practice is conveniently located on West Merrick Road in Valley Stream to accommodate all of your foot health care needs. Book an appointment today!