Toes that bend unnaturally can interfere with your mobility and cause persistent pain that worsens over time. At Total Foot and Ankle in Enid, Oklahoma, board-certified podiatrist Scott Shields, DPM, specializes in treating toe deformities such as hammertoes. He understands how hammertoes can affect your comfort and quality of life, and he’s committed to providing expert care to relieve pain and restore proper toe alignment. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.
A hammertoe is a foot deformity that affects the second, third, or fourth toes, but most commonly the second. This condition causes the toe to bend at the middle joint so that it resembles a hammer. It causes an imbalance in the muscles, tendons, and joints that support the toe.
A hammertoe can remain flexible for a long time but eventually become rigid as the muscles and tendons shorten. Dr. Shields specializes in hammertoe treatment, taking a conservative approach to care that focuses on preventing injury and promoting proper alignment.
A hammertoe may seem like just a cosmetic inconvenience, but it can lead to serious complications. If left untreated, the abnormal toe alignment can cause chronic pain when you walk, pressure ulcers (open sores), and difficulty finding footwear that fits properly.
Hammertoes can even change your gait (how you walk) over time.
As the affected toe joint becomes more rigid, it can alter your foot mechanics, leading to corns and calluses, skin infections, or bunions.
Many factors can increase your risk of developing hammertoes, including:
Precautions like wearing comfortable, roomy shoes can help prevent or slow the progression of hammertoes.
Surgery is the only way to treat a hammertoe. As the only practice in the Enid area to perform minimally invasive hammertoe surgery, Total Foot and Ankle offers advanced techniques to correct the alignment of your toes and relieve discomfort.
This procedure involves removing the toe’s bony protrusion and realigning the joint. It’s an outpatient surgery that requires minimal downtime.
Many home treatments can help relieve hammertoe discomfort, including:
Toe splints can also temporarily help realign the toe to prevent injury and reduce pain.
Call Total Foot and Ankle today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about hammertoe treatment.