Preuss Podiatry treats hammertoes in Louisville, KY and Floyds Knobs, IN, from padding and shoe changes to hammertoe surgery for toes that stay bent and painful.
What is a hammertoe?
Hammertoes are bony deformities of the toes. The bones of the toes bend, curl or angle causing the bones to no longer be in alignment. Hammertoes are hereditary but can be made worse by wearing ill-fitted or improper shoe gear. Hammertoes can often make shoes feel uncomfortable as the toes can rub the top or end of the shoe causing blisters. The toe deformities can also increase pain in the ball of the foot, the appearance of corns and calluses on the toes, and limit range of motion of the toes.
Hammertoe symptoms
- A toe that bends or curls at the middle joint
- Corns or calluses on the top or tip of the toe
- Pain or rubbing when wearing shoes
- A toe that becomes stiff and harder to straighten
- Pain in the ball of the foot
Non-surgical hammertoe treatment
Treatment options include change in shoe gear, custom orthotics, padding, taping, and stretching exercises.
Shoes with a deep, wide toe box take pressure off the toe. These steps can ease pain, but they do not straighten a toe that has become rigid.
Hammertoe surgery
For more advanced cases, surgical intervention to correct the deformity is needed.
Surgery straightens the toe, often by releasing tight tendons or correcting the joint, and is usually done as an outpatient procedure. Hammertoes and bunions often happen together, and when both need surgery they can often be corrected at the same time. Learn more about bunion surgery.
Recovery after hammertoe surgery
Most patients wear a surgical shoe for a few weeks while the toe heals. Your surgeon will tell you when you can return to regular shoes and activity.
Schedule a consultation
If you are in need of hammertoe correction, call Preuss Podiatry and schedule a consultation at one of our Louisville, KY or Floyds Knobs, IN locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hammertoes go away on their own?
No. Hammertoes usually get worse over time, but early treatment can ease pain and slow them down.
When should I consider hammertoe surgery?
When the toe is rigid and painful, or corns keep coming back even with padding and better shoes.
Can a hammertoe come back after surgery?
It is possible. Wearing shoes with enough room for your toes helps protect the correction.
