Learn more about hammertoes and how to make sure it doesn’t get worse.
Have years of shoving your feet into tight, cramped shoes caused your toes to look a little gnarled or claw-like? While the idea may seem silly, this deformity is certainly nothing to scoff at. Fortunately, our Columbus and Dublin, OH, podiatrists, Dr. Corey Griffith and Dr. Randall Thomas, offer up things you can do to protect your feet from developing a hammertoe or prevent a hammertoe from becoming more serious.
What is a hammertoe?
While this deformity can occur in any toe, it most often affects the three toes in the middle. A hammertoe will cause the toe to curve or bend downward from the middle joint. There are two kinds of hammertoes: flexible and rigid. As you may be able to figure out from the names, a flexible hammertoe is less severe, as you can actively straighten the toe out. Of course, you won’t be able to straighten out a true rigid hammertoe.
What are the causes?
If you have spent many years wearing shoes that don’t fit you correctly, you may be in trouble. Shoes that are too tight and keep toes cramped are a one-way ticket to getting hammertoes. Of course, injuries to the foot, bunions and even rheumatoid arthritis are all ways a hammertoe can develop.
What are your treatment options?
If you suspect that you have a hammertoe, it’s essential that you seek professional advice from our foot doctor before trying any of these at-home measures. Remember, these are ways to manage your symptoms, not cure the hammertoe.
Only wear shoes that provide support and offer enough room for your toes. Wiggle your toes around in your shoes. If they can freely move and the toes aren’t pushed up against one another, these shoes are ideal. Also, stay away from high heels.
Make sure that the shoes you are wearing fit your activity of choice. Shoes for certain high-impact sports will differ from shoes you may wear hiking or at work. Be smart about your choices and talk to a shoe specialist if you have questions.
Apply ice to the area whenever it is swollen or painful. This can help ease symptoms at the moment. Consider getting a hammertoe pad from your local drugstore. These non-medicated pads can offer additional protection when wearing shoes to take unnecessary pressure off the affected joint.
If your symptoms are more severe, we may recommend steroid injections to ease severe pain and swelling. Splinting the toe during the earliest stages can be a great way to train the muscles to straighten out. If the toe is rigid, the only way to truly treat the problem is through surgery to realign the joint. This is only performed in severe cases.
Are you dealing with toe pain? Are you concerned that you might have a hammertoe? If so, it’s time to turn to our Columbus and Dublin, OH, podiatrists at Clintonville Foot & Ankle Group to find out if you have a hammertoe and what to do about it. Call us to schedule an evaluation, at (614) 267-8387 (Columbus) or (614) 761-1466 (Dublin).