Suffering From Hammertoes?

Discomfort caused by hammertoes can significantly disrupt your day-to-day life. If you are suffering from hammer toes, walking can be impaired, which is a foundational activity that is involved in almost all aspects of your life. Dr. Richard Rolfes and Dr. Jasper Lee from Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA both treat hammertoes often and successfully.

What Are Hammertoes?

Hammertoes consist of an abnormal bending of one or more toes. Hammertoes generally affect the smaller toes, but they can occur in the larger ones. With this condition, the affected toe or toes will bend upward at the base of the toe joint, and the furthest part of your toe bends down instead of lying flat at rest. The abnormal bending of hammertoes causes excess friction on the toe or toes from your shoes. This excess friction may cause corns and callouses to develop on the tops of your toes.

What Causes Hammertoes?

Hammertoes are caused by an imbalance of the muscles and other structures that surround the toe joint. These shortened structures can be tendons, ligaments, or the muscles themselves surrounding the toe. Because of this shortening, a contracture may develop. Contractures are permanent shortening of tissues surrounding a joint. A contracture causes the toe joint to exist in an unnatural position.

The word 'permanent' may scare you, but rest assured that if you are still able to manually straighten the toe, a contracture has not developed yet. You must address it before it gets to this point by consulting with a podiatrist. Treating this condition in its early stages will save you lots of time, pain, and money in the long term.

What Is the Treatment for Hammertoes?

Though severe cases require more involved treatment, there are steps you can take at home to prevent the condition from progressing and worsening. Professional and at-home treatment options for hammertoes in San Francisco, CA are:

• Purchasing new shoes that lessen friction on the toes. Shoes should be roomy on the toes. Shop for new shoes in the evening, and get your feet measured each time you buy a new pair. Our feet flatten as we get older, and this may require that you buy a larger size shoe than you are used to.
• Custom orthotics
• Toe pads worn in shoes
• Over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories
• Steroid injections
• Several sessions of physical therapy to teach you targeted stretching and strengthening for the structures of the toe
• Kinesiotaping to improve muscle imbalances

Conservative measures will hopefully resolve the problem without the need for surgery. However, if pain and dysfunction continue to get worse and become more than you can bear, you may require surgical intervention. 

Contact Us

Treat your hammertoes in San Francisco, CA at Stonestown Podiatry Group. You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Rolfes or Dr. Lee by calling (415) 731-6700.