Hammertoe

Wearing shoes that are too tight increases your risk of hammertoe. At Capital Foot & Ankle, the podiatry team specializes in nonsurgical treatments like custom-fitted orthotics to relieve pain and other hammertoe symptoms. The experienced surgeons also offer minimally invasive hammertoe correction surgery to realign inflexible toe joints to improve your mobility. Call the office in Folsom, Roseville, or Sacramento, California, today to schedule a hammertoe consultation, or book your appointment online.

What is hammertoe?

Hammertoe is a deformity that develops in your second, third, and fourth toes. The deformity develops because of a muscle imbalance that puts pressure on your toe joints and tendons.

This pressure can pull your toes into a bent position that resembles a hammer. Initially, your toes remain flexible, but over time, the affected toes become rigid and difficult to straighten without surgery.

Capital Foot & Ankle offers comprehensive care for hammertoe. The podiatry team specializes in diagnostic evaluations, and personalized treatment plans to restore the alignment of your toes.

When should I seek medical attention for hammertoe?

You should schedule a consultation at Capital Foot & Ankle if you experience symptoms of hammertoe, including:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Corns and/or calluses
• Difficulties walking

The team examines your toes to determine if your joints are still flexible. They might also order X-rays or other diagnostic imaging to evaluate how severe the condition is.

Based on your exam and imaging results, the team personalizes a care plan to improve the alignment of your toes and prevent severe deformity.

How is hammertoe treated?

Your initial hammertoe treatment will likely involve changes in your footwear to prevent additional pressure on your toe joints and soft tissues. Choose correctly sized, supportive shoes that offer your toes enough room to spread out.

The Capital Foot & Ankle team might also recommend stretching exercises to strengthen your foot muscles and keep your toe joints flexible. You can use over-the-counter medication like aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen to relieve pain.

If your toe joints are no longer flexible, conservative therapies probably won’t work. The foot and ankle surgeons will recommend surgery to release overly tight tendons and correct the position of your toe joints. They use minimally invasive techniques that require only small incisions to access your toe joints and soft tissues.

The team offers custom-fitted orthotics to support your feet and ankles so that you can lower your risk of further hammertoe problems and other painful foot conditions.

Call the Capital Foot & Ankle office nearest you today to schedule a hammertoe evaluation, or book your consultation online.