The toes are remarkable appendages. Though you probably don’t think about moving them individually, they work automatically. Your toes help you balance and propel yourself forward. Without them, getting around would be an entirely different experience.
If you have a toe that tends to rub on the top of your shoe, you may feel that life would be easier without it. If that sounds familiar, you probably have hammertoe.
Joseph DiMenna, DPM, and Jacques Tran, DPM, specialize in treating this often-uncomfortable condition. Here at Family Foot and Ankle Center of South Jersey in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, our team works with you to find effective treatment for your hammertoe. We start with conservative options, then scale up as your toe requires.
You get diagnosed with hammertoe when one of your toes doesn’t lie flat like it should. This condition gets its name from the bending in the middle joint, making your toe look something like a hammer.
You get this toe irregularity because the muscles and tendons in your toe aren’t working like they should. This issue often gets caused by wearing shoes that are too small or otherwise too tight.
Hammertoe tends to get worse over time. At first, you’ll usually have flexible hammertoe, which means you can still move your toes normally, but the bend is starting to form when they’re at rest. As it progresses, you can eventually end up with rigid hammertoe, which means you won’t be able to straighten the toe on your own at all.
The earlier you see our team, the easier the hammertoe usually is to treat.
With flexible hammertoe, we can usually correct the muscle imbalance with options like orthotics you put in your shoes, paired with stretching and strengthening exercises. We might also recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the removal of any corns or calluses to keep your feet more comfortable.
If you’ve reached the point of rigid hammertoe, though, conservative options like these usually won’t be enough. We’ll certainly try them with you, but Dr. Tran and Dr. DiMenna will be ready if your toe needs more involved treatment.
As expert surgeons, they can do what’s needed to help your toe extend fully and lie flat. Dr. DiMenna or Dr. Tran can usually correct your hammertoe with a minimally invasive procedure. We perform this either in our office or in the hospital. Either way, you should go home the same day (i.e., it’s an outpatient procedure).
The big takeaway here: The sooner you treat your hammertoe, the easier it usually is to correct. If you’re dealing with this issue, don’t wait to call 856-667-8222 to book an appointment with Family Foot and Ankle Center of South Jersey today.
