Do your feet look like this:
Hammertoe is quite painful and uncomfortable. It’s also one of the most common issues we see.
Hammertoe happens slowly over time usually because of muscle imbalances or overly tight tendons. High heels or other footwear that forces your toes to curl, rather than lie flat, can also cause hammertoe. And finally, a traumatic injury such as a severe stub or broken toe can also lead to hammertoe.
But in most cases, hammertoe happens because of the aforementioned muscle imbalances and tight tendons. As you walk, your toes naturally curl a little when they touch the ground. That’s a deformity and the beginning of what could become hammertoe.
Slowly, this causes your toes to curl and your joints to flex to a much greater degree just like you see in the picture above. Except now, your toes have now become so rigid you can no longer straighten them.
When this happens, pain and discomfort results. Your toes no longer fit in your shoes like they should. So that results in calluses, blisters, and even wounds.
And that pain is usually what motivates patients like you to come in and see us.
You can get different types of hammertoe. Here’s what can happen:
Fortunately, you don’t have to live with the pain of hammertoe your entire life. Plenty of treatment options are available.
For example, you can start by simply wearing shoes that have a wide toe box and flexible fabric that give your toes the room they need to be comfortable.
Orthotics can also help. Orthotics control and alter the biomechanics of your foot so your supporting muscles and tendons get in balance again. Orthotics can now be customized to fit your foot perfectly and give you a great chance of recovering from hammertoe without surgery.
Finally, surgery is the option of last resort. It’s painful and takes about 6 weeks to fully recover from. But it may be your only option if you have severe hammertoe problems. Recovery time can be shorter or longer, depending on how extremely the condition affects your feet.
It’s no fun being in pain every time you walk. At North Texas Foot & Ankle, we can help you identify the right treatment that gets you back on your feet and doing what you love again.
Insurance is decent about covering hammertoe treatment, so you don’t have to worry too much about costs.
If hammertoe is giving you problems, come on in and learn how you can get relief and back to the active lifestyle you enjoy.