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How to Manage Pain From Hammertoe
Hammertoe is a type of deformity that can affect the second, third, or fourth toes. It happens over time but is ultimately more than a nuisance. In fact, it can lead to intense pain and trouble walking or wearing shoes.
Hammertoe is a progressive problem, meaning taking care of the toe early is the best way to avoid long-term complications. Your main goal with hammertoe is to get discomfort under control and prevent it from worsening.
The good news is that plenty of home care tips can help you quickly and efficiently relieve hammertoe pain. However, if you need expert care, our team at Manhattan Podiatry Group has treatments that can help.
Dr. Mark Sharobeem is our in-house board-certified podiatrist, providing fast and efficient care for hammertoe through exercises, custom orthotics, and surgery.
Understanding hammertoe
Hammertoe causes a toe to bend upward at the middle toe joint. This can cause problems with walking and wearing shoes. The toe's bend resembles a hammer, hence the deformity’s name.
Each of the middle three toes has three joints, but the middle, or proximal interphalangeal joint, is affected in a hammertoe. The joint deformity forms from a muscle imbalance in the foot that puts unnecessary pressure on the joints and tendons, causing the hammertoe appearance.
Hammertoe starts as a flexible issue, meaning you can still bend and straighten the toe. However, this flexibility progresses into semi-rigid or rigid hammertoe without treatment.
Semi-rigid toes are very stiff and difficult to move, but it's still possible to straighten them with some effort. Eventually, however, the toe is frozen into its hammer position, known as a rigid hammertoe.
Hammertoe feels different to everyone, depending on the progression of the condition. For instance, a flexible hammertoe may not bother you, while a rigid hammertoe can be painful. You may also experience pain in the ball of the foot.
Home care for hammertoe
You can successfully treat hammertoe while it’s still flexible through simple lifestyle changes and home care. These treatments ease pressure on the ligaments, tendons, and joints to allow the toe to return to normal.
Dr. Sharobeem offers various home care treatment tips to deal with hammertoe. These include:
- Orthotics
- Shoe changes
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Exercises
- Pads or taping
He may also provide physical therapy to help you with flexible or semi-rigid hammertoe. In most cases, this allows people to overcome the symptoms of hammertoe and return to normal activities.
Professional hammertoe treatment
Home care for flexible hammertoe may be enough to relieve symptoms and allow you to resume your normal activities. However, if you still have discomfort or symptoms despite lifestyle changes and home care, it’s essential to seek professional care.
At your appointment, Dr. Sharobeem evaluates your toe and discusses your symptoms. He also talks to you about how you've tried to reduce the symptoms and discomfort.
Dr. Sharobeem may order an X-ray to determine whether there are any other issues in the foot that could be making the hammertoe worse. He then devises a customized treatment plan for long-term relief.
If you have a rigid or semi-rigid hammertoe that hasn't responded to conservative treatments, Dr. Sharobeem may recommend surgical toe repair. Although surgery is often the last resort, it's necessary when the hammertoe affects everyday activities.
Dr. Sharobeem performs various types of surgery for hammertoe, including tendon lengthening, tendon transfer, and joint fusion. The type of surgery you need depends on the type of hammertoe and the problem's severity.
Call our team today to request an appointment at our convenient locations in and around New York City (Downtown Manhattan, Gramercy Park, and Staten Island) and Manalapan, New Jersey. You can also schedule a consultation using our online booking tool.