
Whenever the ligaments and muscles in your toes begin to weaken, forcing them to bend in an agonizing manner, hammertoe occurs. If you are struggling with hammertoes, Ruben Nieto, DPM, and the staff at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center in Bakersfield, CA, can help you with a range of therapies to provide improved support to your feet. Persons with circulation problems and diabetes are especially vulnerable to hammertoes, increasing their susceptibility to infection. For exceptional Bakersfield hammertoe care, call the office or request a consultation online right away. Same and next-day appointments, as well as telehealth, are available.
What Do You Mean by A Hammertoe?
A hammertoe is a curled toe, which occurs whenever the toe’s ligaments and muscles weaken, prompting the toe’s middle joint to curl out of form. Hammertoes could affect any of your smaller toes, but the middle three are the most prevalent.
Most hammertoes grow with time, becoming less flexible and stiffer, so you may not be aware that you have a malformation initially. The toe gradually bends and curls as the muscles become even more floppy.
What Are the Primary Indicators of Hammertoe?
Hammertoes could induce the following symptoms in addition to a bent or curled toe:
- Redness
- Discomfort while wearing shoes
- Open sores
- Burning irritation
- Swelling
Without care, hammertoes could be excruciatingly painful, but early treatment could enable you to walk pain-free.
What is the Cause of Hammertoe?
Hammertoes occur once your toe tendons and muscles are out of balance, exerting pressure on your toe joint. Numerous factors increase your chances of acquiring hammertoe, including:
- High arches
- Arthritis
- Nerve damage
- Long toes
- Bunions
- Flat feet
- Stroke
- Shoes that are too tight
Women are more probable than men to develop hammertoes due to their propensity to wear narrow, pointed shoes, which crush the toes. A past injury to the toe, including a serious fracture or stub, enhances your chances of suffering from a hammertoe.
What Are the Treatment Options for Hammertoe?
To ease your discomfort, hammertoe is usually treated with a blend of treatments. To reduce irritation from calluses and corns, try cushioning them. Donning pointed shoes, especially high heels, is also a no-no.
Diabetic Foot and Wound Center’s podiatric staff could also suit you for custom-made orthotic devices that are shoe inserts, which adapt to the curve of your foot and provide the much-required support and cushioning. In rare situations, particularly painful or inflexible hammertoe could necessitate surgery.
If you have hammertoes, you should don shoes that are breathable, roomy, and allow your toes to flex freely.
With hammertoe, moving and walking without discomfort could be challenging. If you are set to restore the complete function of your toes, there is a team of compassionate physicians at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center who are ready to help. Utilizing high-end medical technologies and techniques, they will provide you with professional diagnosis and treatment solutions for your hammertoes. To get started, contact the office through mobile to talk to a team member or book an appointment online today.