The discomfort associated with hammer toes can negatively impact your daily life. Walking, which is one of our most basic foundational activities involved in almost all aspects of your life, is usually the first thing you notice that is painful due to hammer toes. If you are suffering from hammer toes, Dr. Michael Emeritus, Dr. Corey Griffith, and Dr. Randall Thomas from Clintonville Foot & Ankle Group in Columbus, and Dublin, OH all treat hammer toes frequently and successfully.
What Are Hammertoes?
Hammer toes involve an abnormal bending of your toes. Just one or multiple toes can be affected. The smaller toes are more commonly affected by hammer toe, though it can occur in the larger toes. When suffering from hammer toes, affected toes bend upward at their base. Then, the furthest part of the toe bends downward and will not lay down flat at rest. Corns and callouses may develop on the tops of your toes because of the excess friction on the toe or toes from your shoes.
What Causes Hammer Toes?
An imbalance of muscles and other structures surrounding the toe joint causes hammertoes. The tendons, ligaments, or the muscles themselves that surround the toe may shorten. A contracture may develop in these structures due to constantly being in this shortened position. Contractures are a permanent shortening and cause the toe joint to live in an abnormal position.
The word 'permanent' shouldn't scare you, because if you are still able to straighten the toe using your fingers, a contracture has not yet developed. The painful toe or toes must be addressed ASAP. Receiving treatment early on will save you a lot of time, pain, and money.
How Are Hammer Toes Treated?
Conservative treatment by your podiatrist and taking steps at home may prevent the condition from getting worse. Medical and at-home treatments for hammer toes in Columbus, Dublin, OH are:
- Buying new shoes. You should choose shoes that are roomy in the toe area.
- Have your feet measured every time you buy a new pair of shoes. Our arches fall and feet flatten as we age, possibly requiring the need for you to buy a larger size shoe.
- Custom orthotics
- Toe pads for your shoes
- OTC painkillers and anti-inflammatories
- Steroid injections
- Your podiatrist may refer you to physical therapy to teach you targeted stretching and strengthening for the structures of the toe joint.
- Kinesiotaping to improve muscle imbalances
Minimally invasive surgery will be necessary if conservative measures fail to resolve the pain. If surgery is recommended and you choose to have it, you will be happy that you did. Surgical intervention for hammer toes has a high success rate and short recovery period.
Contact Us
Treat your hammer toes in Columbus, and Dublin, OH at Clintonville Foot & Ankle Group. You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Emeritus, Dr. Griffith, or Dr. Thomas by calling our Clintonville office at (614) 267-8387 or our Dublin location at (614) 761-1466.