Hammertoe Treatments in Southern CA

What You Need To Know

Understanding hammertoe, why it develops, and how it can be treated.

Understanding Hammertoe and Its Causes

Sometimes a muscle imbalance causes a hammertoe, or a bending of the toe at the first joint. The bent toe looks like an upside-down “V”. The abnormal imbalance of muscles increases pressure on the toe’s joints and tendons. A hammertoe can affect any toe but is most common in the second through fifth toes.

Hammer toes may be flexible or rigid, depending on the joint’s ability to move. A flexible hammertoe is less severe and easier to treat, and you can often straighten it with your fingers. A rigid hammertoe cannot be moved, even with the fingers, and may cause pain and distort foot movement. This may put extra stress on the ball of the foot, causing a callus. Hammertoes are progressive, which means they usually get worse over time.

Symptoms include pain at the top of the toe from shoe pressure, corns on top of the bend, swelling and redness of the joint, restricted motion, and pain extending to the ball of the foot. Friction from shoes may also lead to corns or calluses between your toes.

The most common cause is a muscle or tendon imbalance from mechanical or neurological changes in the foot. Injuries, arthritis, bunions, heredity, toe length, and age can also contribute. To arrive at a diagnosis, the doctor will obtain a thorough history, examine your foot, and take an X-ray to determine the degree of deformity. Call us or book online as soon as you notice signs and symptoms of a hammertoe.

Treatment and Prevention Options

There is a variety of treatment options for a hammertoe. The approach your doctor selects will depend on the severity of your condition and other factors. If your symptoms are mild, changing shoes may be all the treatment you need. Using a splint or pad to hold your toes straight also may help.

Conservative treatment includes padding and taping to relieve stress, switching to shoes with a deep, wide toe box while avoiding high heels and pointed toes, and custom-fitted orthotics to prevent worsening of the deformity. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, may be recommended to reduce pain and inflammation, and corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to ease discomfort. Icing can also help.

If symptoms are severe, or when the hammertoe has become rigid and painful, surgery may be needed. To release a flexible buckled joint, the tight tendon is cut and repositioned. For rigid joints, a piece of bone may be removed to help straighten the toe, and a pin may hold the bone in position during healing. Almost all hammertoe surgeries are outpatient procedures.

You can prevent hammertoes from forming or getting worse. Wear supportive shoes and avoid narrow toe boxes. Footwear with low heels and adjustable straps or laces provides ample room to move. We recommend shopping for shoes at the end of the day when your feet are at their largest. With the right treatment plan, even severe hammer toes can usually be corrected so you can move more easily.