You must have heard about the condition called hammertoe. It is a foot condition, which looks exactly like the name suggests. Although it is not something you have a conversation about every day, it is actually a common occurrence. It is conditions where your toes look like a hammer you see in a tool collection.
The bending of either joints or only one joint depicts as the hammer toe. It is a deformity causing your toes to bend or curl downwards instead of pointing forward their natural position. Dr. Sima Soltani Podiatry Office in Irvine treating the patient with hammertoe for over 20years. Dr. Sima Soltani Podiatry Office in Irvine does their best to make the treatment painless and operation less.
What causes hammertoe pain?
In this condition, your toes have gone rogue. It can affect any toe. In most cases, it occurs in the second and third toes. You may have claws since birth, but it eventually develops with time. You may experience hammer toe pain because of numerous causes such as –
- Arthritis
- Having a higher arch
- Not wearing proper shoes
The good news is, it is very treatable in most cases. However, people wonder how they will know whether they have this foot ailment. Well, it cannot go unnoticed from your sight. In addition, once your toe bend- likes a hammer, you may experience many other bothersome symptoms such as –
- Calluses
- Corns
- Pain
- Blisters
- Irritation
It happens because of the awkward position of your hammertoe. It rubs against your shoes because of constant friction between the footwear, and the foot intensifies the hammertoe pain. On the other hand, if you leave it untreated, it may turn into open sores or rigid, and no one wants to experience such things.
It is obvious to wonder about the treatment options people have for hammertoe. Here is some treatment option for hammertoe.
Treatment options for hammertoe
Treatment options worth mentioning are –
- Changing footwear
- Investing in custom orthotic device or shoe
- Getting over-the-counter insoles, toe pads, cushions to relieve some discomfort
- Prompt treatment of corns and calluses
- Taping toes together to help in realignment
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Gently stretching toes to help reposition and to alleviate the tension of toes
- Hammertoe surgery
When do you need hammertoe surgery?
Hammertoe surgery is a procedure healthcare provider’s use for correcting deformity in a bend toe joint. The procedure is for the second, third, or fourth toes. You do not have to worry about hammertoe surgery pain, as it is a safe procedure. The usual hammertoe surgical procedure includes fusion, joint resection, and tender transfer. The surgery helps in reducing pain and improves the flexibility in the toe muscles where the toes cannot straighten and stretch.
Your podiatry will only suggest hammertoe surgery when other conservatives fail to cure your pain. You can take it as the final resort or ultimate way to treat hammertoe. However, you do not have to panic about it as your healthcare provider will determine whether you need a hammertoe surgery or not. It depends on the severity of your condition and the result of conservative treatment measures.