Hammer Toe Symptoms Pain

Overview

The smallest four toes of each foot have three bony segments connected by two joints, just as the fingers do. Hammer toe is a deformity in which one or more of the small toes develops a bend at the joint between the first and second segments so that the tip of the toe turns downward, making it looks like a hammer or claw. The second toe is affected most often.

Causes

Your shoes, your genetic predisposition, an underlying medical condition or all of these can make you susceptible to developing one of these deformities of the toes. The genes your parents gave you. When it comes to genetics, the foot type you?re born with predisposes you to developing this type of joint deformity over a lifetime. For many, a flat flexible foot leads to hammertoes as the foot tries to stabilize against a flattening arch. Those with high arches can also form hammertoes as the extensor tendons overpower the flexors.

Symptoms

Some people never have troubles with hammer toes. In fact, some people don’t even know they have them. They hammertoes can become uncomfortable, especially while wearing shoes. Many people who develop symptoms with hammer toes will develop corns, blisters and pain on the top of the toe, where it rubs against the shoe or between the toes, where it rubs against the adjacent toe. You can also develop calluses on the balls of the feet, as well as cramping, aching and an overall fatigue in the foot and leg.

Diagnosis

The treatment options vary with the type and severity of each hammer toe, although identifying the deformity early in its development is important to avoid surgery. Your podiatric physician will examine and X-ray the affected area and recommend a treatment plan specific to your condition.

Non Surgical Treatment

The treatment options vary with the type and severity of each hammertoe, although identifying the deformity early in its development is important to avoid surgery. Podiatric medical attention should be sought at the first indication of pain and discomfort because, if left untreated, hammertoes tend to become rigid, making a nonsurgical treatment less of an option. Your podiatric physician will examine and X-ray the affected area and recommend a treatment plan specific to your condition.

Surgical Treatment

There are several surgical techniques used to treat hammertoes. When the problem is less severe, the doctor will remove a small piece of bone at the involved joint and realign the toe joint. More severe hammer toes may need more complicated surgery.

Why And How Hammertoes Are Corrected

Other than surgery, the only effective hammer toes treatment is to find the cause and address it. In some cases, the deformity is too severe to be corrected without surgery. So, at the first sign of redness on the top of your toe , in the area around the joint, consult a podiatrist. Here’s a look at what he or she may suggest. A hammertoe straightener is a special pad and strap device that pulls the toe straight. It is small enough to be worn with most kinds of shoes. Small over the counter pads or small cushions placed under the 2nd and 3rd toes for support will decrease discomfort.

Surgery for Hammer Toe Deformity severely restricts all activity for about 15 days. The foot has to be kept at a high place. Care should be taken to see that during the rehabilitation period the affected foot is kept completely dry. Particular care should be taken, till the stitches are removed. More severe cases, involving a great deformity, the surgery procedures may be a little more complicated. The surgeon introduces a pin in the toe and keeps it there for about one and a half months. The Hammer toe usually affects the second toe, but may also affect the other toes. Finger rotates into a position similar to a claw.

If you notice that your toe looks odd or hurts, talk to your doctor. You may be able to fix your toe with home treatment. If you don’t treat the problem right away, you are more likely to need surgery. What causes hammer, claw, and mallet toes? Less often, these toe problems are linked with other conditions, such as diabetes , rheumatoid arthritis , stroke , or an injury to the foot or ankle. What are the symptoms? In more severe cases, these toe problems may affect your balance and make it hard to walk. How are hammer, claw, and mallet toes diagnosed?

The body normally hosts a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Some of these are useful to the body. Others may multiply rapidly and form infections. Fungi can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers. An infection of nail fungus (called-onychomycosis) occurs when fungi infect one or more of your nails. Onychomycosis usually begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. This commonly affects toe nails rather than finger nails. The infection actually eats your skin and nail, so it can continue growing and may spread to other nails.

Custom foot orthotics are made first by taking a plaster or foam impression of your foot in a neutral position. The impression is then sent to a lab where the misalignments of your feet are corrected with compensation and stabilization techniques. The lab can incorporate special wedges to adjust arches that are too high or too low using a variety of soft, semi-rigid, or hard materials. The finished orthotic is then placed in the patient’s shoe to keep the foot and body in proper alignment. In summary, custom foot orthotics help patients avoid expensive pain pills, injections, and surgery. They allow people to walk, skip, run, and enjoy life.