Dr. Wishnie, a podiatrist in Piscataway and Hillsborough, NJ explains what a Tailor's Bunion (commonly known as a bunionette) is and what causes them. The most common cause of bunionettes is genetics. Shoes will irritate the problem and may make it worse. A bunionette is located on the outside of the foot near the pinky toe while a bunion is located on the inside near the big toe. The treatment for Tailor's Bunions includes injections, orthotics and possible surgery.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Bunionettes? You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!
Do you have a bump on the outside of your foot under the pinky toe? Well, you could be suffering from a tailor’s bunions or what is also known as a bunionette, a mini-bunion. It’s cousin, the main bunion, is on the opposite side of your foot under the big toe. This is the same thing, but on the outside of the foot. Every time I hear the term bunionette I think of the group, Ronnie and the Ronettes, instead maybe we can form a new band called Paul Bunyon and the Bunionettes. Sorry about that, I just couldn’t help myself.
So why do we call it a tailor’s bunion? Well, the real old sewing machines were not electric. You probably don’t remember this, and I only know about this because my grandmother had one, these old sewing machines ran on pedal power. That is, you had to use your foot to make the machine work. The old tailors would use the outside of the foot to push the pedal. I don’t know if this cause the bunion or not, but I guess a lot of tailors back then had tailor’s bunions.
What really happens is that the fifth metatarsal deviates outward. The bump that you feel is the bone pushing against the skin. In addition, there is a nerve between the bone and the skin, so the bone is now irritating both of these structures. Ouch! On top of that, your foot is now wider and you have to get your foot into a shoe, which increases the irritation. If you get a wider shoe, your heel might slip out.
You might wonder how you got this bunionette. Bunionettes are not normally caused by tight shoes, they just irritate them. Most foot problems are due to poor foot mechanics. The foot is not functioning properly during gait. Thus, the bones get out of alignment and all of this is due to poor genetics.
What to do? There are all grades of bunionettes, simple, moderate or complexed. Most simple bunionettes just might need some temporary padding and an injection of cortisone to stop the irritation. To prevent it from getting worse, you might need to change the type of shoes you are wearing or change the size. About 80 percent of the population is wearing the wrong size shoe. If the shoe fits the front of the foot, but your heel tends to slip out, then you can get a tongue pad from the shoe store. This will force your heel back. I wear a size B width shoe, so all my loafers have these pads.
Besides padding, injections or changing your shoes, you might need a custom orthotic, which is an insert that is made especially for you to keep the foot aligned and prevent the bunionette from worsening.
In more severe cases, where the bunionette is bigger, surgery will most likely be necessary. This is a same day procedure and you can go home walking with a walking boot. Crutches or a cast is rarely necessary. If your job is most of a sitting one, then you might just miss a day or two. You will be back into your regular walking shoes in approximately four weeks. Most patients state they have minimal pain. The key is to ice the area as much as possible during the first three days after the procedure.
So, if you have a bunionette, and even if it is not painful, go see your podiatrist, before it gets larger. This way, surgery maybe prevented.
So why do we call it a tailor’s bunion? Well, the real old sewing machines were not electric. You probably don’t remember this, and I only know about this because my grandmother had one, these old sewing machines ran on pedal power. That is, you had to use your foot to make the machine work. The old tailors would use the outside of the foot to push the pedal. I don’t know if this cause the bunion or not, but I guess a lot of tailors back then had tailor’s bunions.
What really happens is that the fifth metatarsal deviates outward. The bump that you feel is the bone pushing against the skin. In addition, there is a nerve between the bone and the skin, so the bone is now irritating both of these structures. Ouch! On top of that, your foot is now wider and you have to get your foot into a shoe, which increases the irritation. If you get a wider shoe, your heel might slip out.
You might wonder how you got this bunionette. Bunionettes are not normally caused by tight shoes, they just irritate them. Most foot problems are due to poor foot mechanics. The foot is not functioning properly during gait. Thus, the bones get out of alignment and all of this is due to poor genetics.
What to do? There are all grades of bunionettes, simple, moderate or complexed. Most simple bunionettes just might need some temporary padding and an injection of cortisone to stop the irritation. To prevent it from getting worse, you might need to change the type of shoes you are wearing or change the size. About 80 percent of the population is wearing the wrong size shoe. If the shoe fits the front of the foot, but your heel tends to slip out, then you can get a tongue pad from the shoe store. This will force your heel back. I wear a size B width shoe, so all my loafers have these pads.
Besides padding, injections or changing your shoes, you might need a custom orthotic, which is an insert that is made especially for you to keep the foot aligned and prevent the bunionette from worsening.
In more severe cases, where the bunionette is bigger, surgery will most likely be necessary. This is a same day procedure and you can go home walking with a walking boot. Crutches or a cast is rarely necessary. If your job is most of a sitting one, then you might just miss a day or two. You will be back into your regular walking shoes in approximately four weeks. Most patients state they have minimal pain. The key is to ice the area as much as possible during the first three days after the procedure.
So, if you have a bunionette, and even if it is not painful, go see your podiatrist, before it gets larger. This way, surgery maybe prevented.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Causas y El Tratamiento de Los Juanetes
htttp://www.stopfootpainfast.com Una empleado de Family Foot & Ankle Specialists en Hillsborough & Piscataway, NJ explica la causas y el tratamiento de los juanetes de los pies. En nuestro consultorio tenemos muchos metodos de tratamiento sin dolor! Llama para una examin gratis! Hablamos espanol!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Isn't Time to Finally Get Your Life Back?
Isn't it time to finally get your life back? So many people we see during health fairs or races will come over and ask questions about bunions... what's bunion surgery recovery like? Will it hurt? Will I be out of work for 3 months? Can I drive? and so on. We have to first start by telling these people to completely forget about what they "have heard" about bunion surgery. It's not the same surgery their aunt had 20 years ago. It's not even the same bunion surgery Jane Smith had from down the street. Your situation will be completely different and unique to your feet. Again, this is why we stress the importance of taking care of your bunions early before they get worse!
In addition, patients need to factor in their quality of life when deciding on when and where or IF to have bunion surgery. Are you active? Do your bunions hurt? Have you tried conservative measures first? These are some very important questions to ask yourself when considering bunion surgery.
We have some many ecstatic patients that are so happy, relieved, thankful, excited about their bunion surgery and the results...the painfree results! They are able to be active- run, walk, jog, they can play with their children or grandchildren, they can walk around the mall for hours PAINFREE! We have so many happy bunion surgery patients, to learn more about their experiences click here: www.stopfootpainfast.com
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
33% of People Suffer With Bunion Pain! You Do Not Have to be One of Them.
Got a bunion? If yes, you may also have poorer mental and physical functioning! A study published in Arthritis Care and Research found bunions to not only cause foot pain, but also significantly affect a person’s quality of life.
Bunions are bumps on the side of the big toe. The big toe deviates towards the lesser toes and a boney prominence will form at the big toe joint. This is typically caused by a biomechanical dysfunction. There seems to be a genetic link and improper shoes are believed to increase or worsen the deformity. It is a common deformity that becomes more prevalent as we age. About 28% of persons in their 50’s report suffering from bunions and nearly 56% of those over 80 are besieged by bunions Not only are these individuals complaining of foot pain, but they also were struggling with hip, knee, and back pain. Over all, studies report people with bunions report poorer mental and physical function than those without bunions!
Is there an easy fix to bunion pain? You should always start conservatively. Unfortunately, some shoes are uncomfortable and should be avoided. Wide toe boxes to give your bunion more room will help decrease pain. Custom made orthotics will help treat the biomechanical imbalance that causes the bunion. Other padding and bracing techniques may also be applied by your podiatrist.
Conservative treatment failed? Surgical correction of a bunion is a common procedure that offers reliable results. There are a number of different procedures that can be done to correct a patient’s specific deformity. Most surgical techniques involve cutting the bone, removing the bump, and sliding the bone back into a better position. Depending on the particular procedure the patient may be able to weight bear immediately or be non-weight bearing for up to 6-8 weeks.
Scared of surgery? I have many patients who want to jump into surgery immediately, and I have just as many patients who want to avoid surgery at all cost. Taking into account your lifestyle, age, and other medical conditions; you and your doctor will decide if surgery is right for you. Surgery is not something to rush into but also not something to run away from mealy because surgery sounds scary. The purpose of bunion surgery is to relieve pain and improve your quality of life. Though the procedure may slow you down for several weeks, the long term results of bunion surgery can greatly improve your everyday lifestyle.
You do not have to suffer with bunion pain and bunion surgery is not painful. Don’t wait until it gets too severe. See what some people have said about their bunion surgery. Go to
Bunions are bumps on the side of the big toe. The big toe deviates towards the lesser toes and a boney prominence will form at the big toe joint. This is typically caused by a biomechanical dysfunction. There seems to be a genetic link and improper shoes are believed to increase or worsen the deformity. It is a common deformity that becomes more prevalent as we age. About 28% of persons in their 50’s report suffering from bunions and nearly 56% of those over 80 are besieged by bunions Not only are these individuals complaining of foot pain, but they also were struggling with hip, knee, and back pain. Over all, studies report people with bunions report poorer mental and physical function than those without bunions!
Is there an easy fix to bunion pain? You should always start conservatively. Unfortunately, some shoes are uncomfortable and should be avoided. Wide toe boxes to give your bunion more room will help decrease pain. Custom made orthotics will help treat the biomechanical imbalance that causes the bunion. Other padding and bracing techniques may also be applied by your podiatrist.
Conservative treatment failed? Surgical correction of a bunion is a common procedure that offers reliable results. There are a number of different procedures that can be done to correct a patient’s specific deformity. Most surgical techniques involve cutting the bone, removing the bump, and sliding the bone back into a better position. Depending on the particular procedure the patient may be able to weight bear immediately or be non-weight bearing for up to 6-8 weeks.
Scared of surgery? I have many patients who want to jump into surgery immediately, and I have just as many patients who want to avoid surgery at all cost. Taking into account your lifestyle, age, and other medical conditions; you and your doctor will decide if surgery is right for you. Surgery is not something to rush into but also not something to run away from mealy because surgery sounds scary. The purpose of bunion surgery is to relieve pain and improve your quality of life. Though the procedure may slow you down for several weeks, the long term results of bunion surgery can greatly improve your everyday lifestyle.
You do not have to suffer with bunion pain and bunion surgery is not painful. Don’t wait until it gets too severe. See what some people have said about their bunion surgery. Go to