Could your scrunched up toes actually be the result of this foot deformity?
Foot deformities are actually more common than you may imagine. From arthritis and sports-related injuries to wearing the wrong shoes over the years, there are many reasons hammertoes develop. If you are currently dealing with painful bent toes, our Williamsburg and Hampton, VA, podiatrists, Dr. Sara Bouraee and Dr. Mahmoud Salem, are here to tell you whether you may be suffering from hammertoes and what you should do about it.
If you aren’t experiencing pain or any other symptoms as a result of your hammertoes then you may be more likely to just ignore the issue, but it’s important that you don’t. After all, many foot deformities like this one can become worse if you don’t give your feet the proper care they deserve.
A hammertoe is the result of a muscular imbalance within the foot. When the muscles of the feet are weak or overworked this, in turn, affects the health and length of the tendons. As these tendons become stretched it pulls the toes downward at the joint, causing the toes to look claw-like. If you notice that your toes are naturally bent rather than straight then you could very well be dealing with hammertoes.
Again, not all foot problems in the early stages will present with symptoms. Maybe you hadn’t even thought twice about your bent toes until you read this; however, if you suspect that something isn’t right it’s the perfect time to address the issue with our Williamsburg and Hampton foot doctors before the problem progresses. Getting the proper care and treatment early on is crucial to healthy feet for the long term.
Plus, treating the issue is pretty easy if you catch it soon enough. Most of the time people can get away with taking simple day-to-day precautions to make sure their hammertoes don’t get worse. Some lifestyle changes include:
- Wearing shoes that don’t put pressure on your toes or cause them to bunch up. Also, tossing out shoes that don’t provide enough support or cushioning, and avoiding high heels.
- Icing the toe or taking pain relievers if you do experience any discomfort.
- Splinting the toe in order to improve its alignment and the structure of the foot.
- Applying a protective moleskin padding over the hammertoe (particularly where the joint bents) to prevent a corn from forming and to take pressure off the joint when wearing shoes.
Most of the time these simple measures can work wonders for preventing the hammertoe from getting worse. Of course, in rare cases, you may require surgery if the joint is inflexible.
Don’t let a hammertoe alter your life. We can help create the proper treatment plan that will reduce pain and other symptoms. If you have questions about caring for your hammertoe in Williamsburg or Hampton, VA, call Hampton Roads Foot and Ankle Specialists today.