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Wearing shoes that are too tight or narrow can force your toes out of alignment and lead to painful hammertoes. At Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists, with offices in Louisville, Fern Creek, Shepherdsville, Leitchfield, Jeffersonville, and Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the experienced podiatrists offer nonsurgical therapies like orthotics and taping to restore the position of your toe joints. They also specialize in minimally invasive surgery to correct severe hammertoe deformities. Call the nearest Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists office today to schedule an evaluation for hammertoes or book a consultation online.
What are hammertoes?
A hammertoe is a foot deformity that affects the joints of the third, fourth, and fifth toes. The deformity occurs when the toes bend sideways, causing the bones to shift out of alignment.
Over time, the tendons and muscles in the affected toes become less flexible and can lock your toes in a curved position. Pressure on the feet can increase your risk for hammertoes and may stem from:
- Flat feet
- Bunions
- Diabetes
- High arches
- Ill-fitting shoes
- Naturally long toes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists offer personalized care plans for hammertoes in adults and children.
The experienced podiatry team focuses on noninvasive strategies to relieve pain and other symptoms of hammertoes. They also perform minimally invasive surgery when needed to improve the alignment of your toe bones.
What are the symptoms of hammertoes?
Hammertoe symptoms may not be noticeable in the earliest stages. However, as your toes continue to bend in an unusual, hammerlike position, you might experience:
- Pain in the ball of your foot and toes
- Swelling
- Corns
- Calluses
- Skin discoloration
- Limited range of motion in the affected toes
- Difficulties wearing shoes comfortably
Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Louisville Foot and Ankle if you have any symptoms of hammertoe. The earlier you seek treatment, the more effective nonsurgical treatments will be.
The providers complete a physical exam of the affected toes. They may order X-rays or other diagnostic imaging tests to evaluate the bones and soft tissues of the toes.
How are hammertoes treated?
Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists prioritizes nonsurgical therapies in the early treatment of hammertoes. The podiatry team might recommend:
- Footwear changes
- Stretching exercises
- Custom orthotics
- Taping or splinting
When these strategies aren’t enough to relieve the pain and limited range of motion common with hammertoe, you may be a candidate for surgery.
The experienced foot and ankle surgeons specialize in minimally invasive techniques to lengthen the tendons in your toe joint to increase their flexibility. They might also complete joint fusion surgery to join two or more toe joints together to minimize unnecessary movements.
Call the Louisville Foot and Ankle Specialists office near you to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for hammertoes or book an appointment online.