What Are Hammertoes and How Are They Treated?

Virginia Foot and Ankle Center is a podiatry care center staffed by Dr. My Hoa Kaas and Dr. Jay Ryan, who can help with hammertoes in Fairfax, VA. Anyone with this problem can contact us to learn more about their care. Or you can read on to get the inside scoop.

What Is This Condition?

A hammertoe is a painful distortion of your foot when the big toe gets pushed out of place. If left untreated, the muscles and tendons will tighten in this position and freeze. In some cases, people with this issue might struggle to walk correctly or stand up straight for minutes. Symptoms of this often long-term problem can include a variety of physical changes, including:

• Pain in the affected toes or specifically on the ball of the impacted foot
• Difficulty moving the foot, particularly in the direction away from the curl
• Corns and calluses spreading throughout the area
• Swelling and skin discoloration throughout your foot

People develop hammertoes or toes for a variety of reasons. Poorly fitting shoes are the most common trigger, though severe injuries are also an issue. Flat feet or high arches can also make this problem more likely. Lastly, people with bunions, diabetes, and other health conditions could be at an even higher risk, affecting their foot health in various ways.

How Is It Diagnosed and Treated?

Dr. Kaas and Dr. Ryan at Virginia Foot and Ankle Center can help diagnose your hammertoes in Fairfax, VA, to ensure you get the needed help. Diagnosis includes x-rays, physical examinations, and other in-depth checks that gauge this problem’s severity. A few simple life tweaks may be all that’s necessary, but some might need more long-term care as well:

• Wearing better shoes might help relieve the pressure that causes this problem 
• Over-the-counter pads and taping may also help relieve some pain
• Pain relievers that can minimize swelling and painful problems
• Orthotic devices fitted by our team can correct your toes’ positioning
• Regular toe exercises that help them stay in the proper alignment 
• Surgery to correct severe misalignments (when other methods don’t work)

If you have experienced this problem before or simply want to avoid it happening again, avoid wearing narrow shoes with pointed tips, and make sure you try them out heavily to stop your feet from being pinched. Doing so should prevent most cases of this condition from happening.

You Deserve Support

Virginia Foot and Ankle Center with Dr. Kaas and Dr. Ryan can help you understand your hammertoes in Fairfax, VA, and get support for this issue. By calling us at (703) 205-0770, you can schedule your appointment and get the help you deserve.