Expert Hammer & Claw Toe Care By Waxahachie Podiatrist

5-Star-Rated Waxahachie Podiatrists Hammertoe Treatments

Does your second or third toe bend in an unusual way? Does it seem to be worsening? You probably have a hammer toe. This forms when there is a muscle and ligament imbalance around the toe joint. This causes the center joint of the toe to buckle into the shape of an upside down V.  Most people with hammertoes notice rubbing and irritation on the top of the bent toe from shoes.

What Are Hammertoes?

 A Hammertoe is when one or all of the four smallest toes are bent instead of resting flat on the ground.  This occurs from an imbalance between the muscles the toes. 

The middle 3 toes are the most likely to develop into hammertoes.  The little toe may also be affected but it has a tendency to bend toward the 4th toe. 

Most hammertoes can still be moved at the toe joint when it first develops.  This is referred to as a flexible hammertoe. Over time, the joints in the toe may get stuck in this position and become rigid. A rigid hammertoe has a greater tendency to rub against the shoe and developed a corn or sore on top of the toe.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of a hammertoe is irritation at the joint where the toe is bent. A corn may develop on top of the toe bend due to irritation from the shoe. This area may also become painful and red. Another common symptom is calluses on the balls of feet. The longer the condition has been present, the stiffer the toe may become.  In severe conditions, a sore may develop on the top or tip of the affected toe.

Causes

As previously discussed, the hammertoe is due to a muscle imbalance.  This imbalance can occur due to the following:

• Incorrect shoes.  If your shoe is too narrow it will cramp your toes into an unnatural shape.  Shoes that have too high of a heel put too much pressure on the ball of your feet and cause trauma to the toes.
• Genetics. A flatfoot or a high arched foot.
• Medical conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and nerve problems can lead to joint instability within the toe
• Neuropathy.  This nerve condition can lead to muscle imbalance and contracture of the toes.
• Trauma to the toe.  An injury to the toe, such as dropping something on the toe or stubbing the toe, skin damage the joint or muscles that support your toe.

Treatment Options

Treatment for hammertoes is often just conservative.  This includes padding the toe, wearing wider shoes, and toe splints to reposition the toes. Custom orthotics are very effective at correcting muscle imbalances in the feet. 

Surgical correction may be helpful in straightening the toe and restoring motion. Surgical treatment options depend on how much deformity is present in the toe.  If the toe is still flexible, a simple flexor tenotomy may be enough to straighten the toe.  This can be done in the office and takes just a matter of minutes.  Recovery is extremely quick with no time off of your feet. If the toe is rigid, and a outpatient surgery to correct the toe may be necessary.

No matter the cause of your hammertoes, our expert Waxahachie podiatrists are ready and able to create a custom hammertoe treatment plan suited to your unique needs. Our goal is to address the root cause of your toe pain and make that pain stop forever. All of the foot specialists at Family Foot and Ankle Centers in Waxahachie are experts and hammertoe correction. We are changing lives, one toe to time.

Experience Our Award-Winning Care for Hammer & Claw Toe in Waxahachie, TX, Today!

Schedule an appointment today by calling us at 972-597-4132 or by clicking here to use our convenient online form. We offer same-day appointments and have bilingual Spanish-speaking professionals on staff for your convenience. During your appointment, our team will be happy to answer all your questions about our treatments, our office, our flexible payment options, and anything else you may want to know about us! Call today – we can’t wait to help you live your life pain-free!

As the premier podiatry centers in Waxahachie, Corsicana and Ennis, TX, our foot doctors and team at Family Foot & Ankle Centers also provide 5-star podiatry care to patients in our surrounding areas.  We proudly serve patients in Navarro and Ellis counties and surrounding areas including Red Oak, Midlothian, Desoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Arlington and Mansfield. The Foot Specialists at Family Foot & Ankle Centers are improving lives one foot at a time.