Does Hammertoe Ever Go Away?

Podiatrist in East Meadow

Have you been experiencing pain or difficulty walking due to a toe related issue? If your toe is currently unable to point out straight, you may be dealing with hammertoe.  At Cherrywood Foot Care, our Podiatrist in East Meadow can help sort out this issue quickly before more invasive forms of treatment are necessary.        

Why Do They Occur?

If your toe has suffered from an abnormal bend in its middle joint, chances are its hammertoe.  This aforementioned bend leaves the toe unable to point out straight and takes place when there is an imbalance in the muscles surrounding the middle joint.  This imbalance can be caused by a variety of factors which include:

  • Injuries sustained to the toe
  • Genetic disposition to the condition
  • Toe Length
  • Wearing certain types of shoes

Treating Hammertoe

Trying to walk and complete other daily tasks with hammertoe can be a pain to deal with.  Though this condition can be treated, you must take swift action as this will not go away on its own.  The longer you wait, the more likely you will need more extreme forms of treatment. Our podiatrist in East Meadow will determine what is best for you based on the type of hammertoe you are dealing with.

Flexible Hammertoe

When caught early enough and the toe is still flexible, mild forms of treatment such as exercise and lifestyle changes can be used.  These include:

  • Picking up marbles with your toe
  • Gently stretching the toe several times a day
  • Switching to footwear with low heels 
  • Using custom made shoe inserts

Rigid Hammertoes

Should you wait until the toe is no longer flexible to seek help, surgery may be the only form of treatment left to correct the problem.  Different procedures that may be done include:

  • Arthroplasty – removing half the joint under the crooked part of the toe
  • Tendon transfer – tendons from under toe are moved to help with the straightening
  • Weil osteotomy –  shortening of the metatarsal bone and insertion of medical hardware to aid with treatment

Contact Our Podiatrist in East Meadow

Hammertoe is a very manageable condition when taken care of immediately! Waiting to do so can lead to a longer recovery process. After knowing this, why would you wait to seek out help? Our Podiatrist in East Meadow can straighten your toes before surgery is required. Reach out today and start this process! 

Cherrywood Foot Care