

Each of these muscles works to keep the toes flat on the ground when you’re walking. Though you may not realize it, there are six sets of muscles that help to stabilize the bones of your second through fifth toes. This constriction results in a muscle imbalance, causing the toe to assume a curled or bent position. Hammertoe typically affects the second, third or fourth toes and is caused by repeated constriction, often when the toes are forced into a bent position for long periods of time. Here’s an overview of what causes hammertoe and how the condition can be treated without surgery. Fortunately, many cases of hammertoes can be improved, if not completely reversed, through nonsurgical measures. A hammertoe gets its name from the way it looks from the side – with a fixed bend in one or both of the toe’s joints, it creates a shape that looks like the head of a hammer.

Hammertoes, perhaps better described as “curled” or “bent” toes, are a widespread cause of foot discomfort and a common source of insecurity about foot appearance. A surgeon shortens certain bones in your foot and then puts screws in them.4 Ways to Reverse Hammertoe Without Surgeryīy: admin | Tags: hammertoe causes, hammertoe treatment, hammertoes, nonsurgical treatments | Comments: A surgeon takes out the base of the bone under your hammertoe. A surgeon attaches tendons under your toe to the top of your toe to help it straighten out.īasal phalangectomy. A surgeon takes out the whole joint under your crooked toes and inserts a wire to help it straighten as it heals. A surgeon takes half of the joint under each crooked toe so it can lie flat.Īrthrodesis. It may be an option if your pain has gotten very bad, your toe is very rigid, or you have an open sore because of your hammertoe.Īrthroplasty. If your hammertoe is severe, you may have surgery to correct it. Steroid injections in severely swollen or painful toe joints. Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen to help with pain and swelling Ice packs on your toes to relieve pain and swelling Taping or splinting your toe to make it straight

Special exercises that stretch and strengthen your toes Inserts or pads in your shoes that reposition your toes to relieve pain Roomier shoes that extend at least a half inch past your toes To relieve some of the symptoms of hammertoe, your doctor may suggest: People with these conditions should see a doctor at the first sign of foot trouble. Custom orthopedic shoes may prevent these complications. Hammertoes can be a serious problem in people with diabetes or poor circulation because they have a higher risk for infections and foot ulcers.

Women are more likely than men to get pain from hammertoes because of the types of shoes they wear. Long toe bones: If your second toe is longer than your first, it’s at a higher risk of hammertoe. Genes: You may have inherited conditions or features that make your feet unstable. Your risk of getting hammertoes goes up with: Pointy, high-heeled shoes put particularly severe pressure on the toes.Ĭharcot-Tooth-Marie disease, a disorder that damages the nerves in your arms and legs If your shoes are too tight, too short, or too pointy, they push your toes out of balance. This pressure forces your toe into a hammerhead shape. Muscle imbalance puts a lot of pressure on your toe's tendons and joints. When the toe muscles get out of balance, a hammertoe can form. Stiffness in the bent toes that gets worse over time Pain in your toe joint where it meets your foot Because of these buckled toes, you may have:īlisters and calluses from where your toes rub against the top of your shoes The main symptom of hammertoe is a toe or toes that look bent upward in the middle. If the tendons in your toe get rigid, they press the joint out of alignment. That's good, because it means you have a milder form of the problem. If you can still move your toe at the joint, it's a flexible hammertoe.
