Surgical expertise

Kick Hammertoes To The Curb With Expert Treatment

Hammertoes are one of many deformities that can be painful and disrupt your life by making walking difficult. Give your feet the treatment they deserve with the expertise of Dr. Larry Kipp.

Get Relief From A Specialist You Can Trust

Don’t neglect your feet. Your foot health should be taken seriously and your treatment should be managed by a certified specialist.

Options To Accommodate

Depending on the severity of your symptoms and your personal preference, Dr. Kipp can provide a variety of treatment options.

Board Certified Expertise

Whether you end up having a surgical procedure or not, a specialty trained board-certified surgeon is nice to have in your corner.

Personalized Approach

The last thing you want is a one size fits all approach and Dr. Kipp treats all his patients uniquely with personalized treatment plans.

Hammertoe Symptoms Can Be Disruptive And Progress Over Time

Hammertoes are painful symptoms caused by joint deformities when toes start pointing up instead of lying flat. This deformity happens because muscle weakness in the foot or leg causes tendons to pull abnormally.

There are three types of hammertoes:

Flexible – not yet fully developed and can still move.
Semi-rigid – starting to stiffen.
Rigid – cannot move anymore due to the tight tendons and soft tissues.

Causes & Symptoms

What causes hammertoes?

When your toe muscles are out of whack, they put too much pressure on the tendons and joints. This can lead to hammertoe, which is when your toes curl up. The pressure on the joint may be caused by several factors, such as:

Poor shoes – Your feet deserve better. Nowadays, high heels are all the rage. Unfortunately, they have little to no arch support and are extremely painful, which is why more cases of hammertoe occur in women than men.
Neuromuscular disease – For people with diabetes who have poor blood flow or neuropathy– infected corns and lesions can threaten the loss of a toe or foot unless something is done about it.
Genes – Your genes may help determine your risk of having hammer toes. If you have flat feet, you might develop them because your foot has to compensate and try to maintain its balance as your arch flattens out. Conversely, if you have a high-arched foot, you might form hammertoes because your foot’s extensor tendon muscle is much stronger than its flexor.

What are the symptoms of a hammertoe?

A toe joint that’s fixed in place and painful.
A corn or callus on the joint.
Redness, inflammation, or a burning sensation at your joint.
Difficulty bending your toe joint.
Swelling around your joint.
Open sores (rare).

Hammertoes can get progressively worse with time, especially with unsupportive shoes and tendon tightness. If you have any of these symptoms, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Kipp.

Diagnosis & Testing

How are hammertoes diagnosed?

Dr. Kipp will do a physical examination of your foot and usually touch and move your toes to see how they respond. There are a few things he may look for to make a diagnosis, including:

Pain or restricted motion at the joint.
Swelling in the joint.
Open sores (rare).

Treatment

How are hammertoes treated?

Hammertoes are a health condition that can be relieved by surgery, custom shoe inserts, or regular orthotics. Surgery is an option for severe pain, when daily activities are disrupted, or if non-surgical treatments have not helped. The surgery may involve removing the bony prominence on your toe and aligning the joint, inserting steel pins to correct your toe’s position, or other procedures.

Prevention

How can hammertoes be prevented?

Do some foot exercises – Dr. Kipp may suggest exercises for your toes to keep them flexible and strong. Extend the toes, then curl them. Splay the toes and wiggle them. Doing these exercises may help prevent contracture that causes hammertoe.
Wear appropriate shoes – If you want to avoid surgery, don’t wear tight shoes! You should also consider padding and a shoe with a wider and deeper toe box. If you are experiencing foot pain, try arch support. All of these things can help your hammertoe from worsening.
Use a pumice stone – If you have hammertoes, try this! Use a pumice stone after a warm bath to reduce the corn or callus’s size. Applying emollients should keep the area soft and pliable. For added protection, apply silicone or moleskin padding on top of the area.

Prognosis

Are hammertoes permanent?

Hammertoes are not going away on their own. Symptoms get worse over time without treatment. The sooner you notice the symptoms, the better. Make an appointment to see Dr. Kipp ASAP!

Don't Let Your Symptoms Worsen, Be Proactive

If you have any symptoms, be sure to contact Dr. Kipp right away. Hammertoes are a progressive condition that can worsen without treatment, so don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment to prevent further complications.