Hammer Toe Treatment

Hammer toe is a painful condition in which the foot becomes deformed and the toes curl downward instead of pointing straight out from the foot. This tends to happen when the tendons above and below the toe are out of balance, often making the affected toes stiff and inflexible. Any toes can be affected, though the second and third toes are most commonly affected.

Our Santa Clarita podiatrists can fix your hammer toe for good! Call (661) 288-0022 today to speak to one of our knowledgeable, friendly team members at Unruh Spine Centers.

How Does Hammer Toe Happen?

Hammer toe is often caused by inadequate footwear. Anyone can develop a hammer toe, but women are at greater risk than men, due in large part to repeated use of uncomfortable shoes, such as high heels. (This creates particular problems for people affected by diabetes.) It can also be caused by bunions, corns, arthritis, and other food conditions.

As time goes on, this condition (and the pain and inflexibility) tends to get worse. If left untreated for long enough, your hammer toe could become so painful and restrictive that you are unable to run, walk, or get around on your own. This is why it is always in your best interest to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist as soon as you suspect you may be developing a hammer toe.

Hammer Toe Treatment in Santa Clarita

Hammer toes typically become frozen in place, but some are still flexible enough to move. If your developing hammer toe is still more or less flexible and can move at the joint, you may be able to treat it without undergoing surgery. Though they may not yet cause you any serious pain or limitations, flexible hammer toes can quickly become rigid if not treated properly and quickly.

Once a hammer toe is rigid and inflexible, you will need surgery to correct it. However, our podiatrists at Unruh Spine Centers won’t rush you to surgery—we will utilize other non-invasive methods first, such as:

• Padded footwear
• Anti-inflammatory treatments
• Stretching and repositioning

However, if non-invasive methods do not relieve the pain and discomfort of your deformity, surgery may be your next option. When you come to one of our Santa Clarita podiatrists for hammer toe surgery, we will properly position your toe, get rid of the segments of bone that are injured or contorted, and realign your muscles and tendons to get your toes working properly again.

Hammer toe surgery typically does not require you to undergo any rehabilitation, take time off work, or set aside any significant amount of time to recover.