Question
Hi,

I'm a 20 year old student, and although I wear small heels day-to-day (I have flat feet so ballet pumps and other flats are quite uncomfortable) I wear really colossal heels once or twice a week - 4 to 5.5 inches high. Before the Christmas vacation I noticed a painful bump on the outside of my right foot, on my little toe. I figured it would go down over the Xmas break as I never go out at home and wouldn't be wearing heels for a month. However, it got worse and it's now difficult for me to wear any shoes. I thought it might be a bunionette but it's too high up,  not on the joint connecting the toe to the foot but in the very middle of the toe, on the joint where it bends. My other foot is fine. I also run a fair bit in supportive trainers which are very comfortable.

I'm 5ft 8 and about 134 lbs if that helps.

Thanks,
Emily

Answer
Hi Emily,

The small toe often gets irritated by shoes, especially heels.  It is also possible to have a toe fracture.  See a podiatrist for an evaluation and x-ray.  In the meantime avoid heels and tight shoes.  Apply a band-aid to protect the area in shoes.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
http://www.thetampapodiatrist.com
http://www.tampacryosurgery.com
http://katzpodiatristtampa.blogspot.com
http://painfoot.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/TampaPodiatrist
http://www.notoenailfungus.com

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