How to Tell if You Have Hammertoe

You can often spot a hammertoe just by seeing the claw-like bend in the affected toe, which makes the toe resemble the head of a hammer. However, that’s not the only sign of this toe deformity.

At Advanced Care Foot and Ankle in Corona and Ontario, California, our podiatrists understand that healthy feet create a stable base for your entire body. If you have a foot deformity, even one that may seem harmless, such as hammertoe, it can throw off this foundation and affect your mobility and quality of life.

To avoid problems in the future, our team recommends watching for these signs of hammertoe and seeking treatment as quickly as possible.

Spotting the signs of hammertoe

Hammertoe develops when the muscles, tendons, or ligaments become imbalanced and keep your toe from straightening into its natural position. Instead, the toe’s middle joint begins to bend down, leading to the telltale “hammer” deformity.

This may seem like it’s only a cosmetic problem, but ignoring the problem can cause your toe to lose its flexibility. Over time, the toe can remain in a permanently bent position, triggering a variety of uncomfortable problems, such as:

• Redness, burning, or inflammation in the affected toe
• Swelling or difficulty moving the toe joint
• Painful rubbing on the raised portion of the toe
• The formation of corns or calluses
• Inability to move the toe
• Pain in the toe joint

Hammertoe is also especially dangerous if you have diabetes, which can compromise your foot health and increase your chances of developing serious complications, such as amputation.

Recognizing your risks for hammertoe

Another way to tell if you may have hammertoe is to consider whether you have any risk factors for getting it. Anyone can get hammertoe, but several factors can increase your chances of developing it, including:

• Wearing high heels or shoes without enough room in the toe box
• Having a second toe that’s longer than your big toe
• Being a woman
• Having a family history of the condition
• Aging
• Having certain diseases, such as diabetes or arthritis
• Suffering trauma to a toe, such as jamming, stubbing, or breaking it

Fortunately, you can help protect your feet by wearing comfortable and supportive shoes with low heels and plenty of toe room.

What to do if you have hammertoe

If you think you have hammertoe, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. In the early stages of the condition, we can often correct this deformity with conservative treatments, such as:

• Different footwear
• Taping the toes
• Custom orthotics, shoe inserts, or heel pads
• Special stretches to strengthen and extend your toe muscles
• Anti-inflammatory pain relievers
• Cortisone injections

However, we could recommend surgery for severe hammertoe or pain that doesn’t respond to conservative treatments. These procedures surgically restore alignment by releasing the affected tendon or removing bone so you can straighten your toe again.

If you have hammertoe and want treatment, or if you want to see if you have the condition, we can help. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Advanced Care Foot and Ankle today.