Hammertoe Treatments for Lasting Relief

What You Need to Know

Understanding hammertoe, its causes, and how we treat it at every stage.

Understanding Hammertoe and Your Options

Hammertoe is a bending (contracture) of the first joint in your toe, called the proximal interphalangeal joint. The contracture makes your toe look like an upside-down V. A hammertoe can affect any toe but is most common in the second through fifth toes. Over time, a hammertoe can become more deformed to the point of causing severe pain with regular daily activities.

There are two types of hammertoe. A flexible hammertoe is less severe and easier to treat, because the joint is still moveable. A rigid hammertoe is more serious and may require surgical treatment. This type can develop in people who have severe arthritis or those who wait too long to seek treatment for a flexible hammertoe. Hammertoes are progressive in nature, which means they will usually get worse over time and never improve without some kind of intervention.

The most noticeable symptom is an abnormal bend in the toe. Other signs include pain in the affected toe when wearing shoes, inflammation, redness, or swelling at the joint, restricted or painful motion, and pain at the ball of the foot below the affected toe. Friction from shoes may also lead to corns or calluses between your toes or on the ball of your foot.

Hammertoes result from an imbalance in the muscles and tendons in your toes. Tight shoes, injuries, arthritis, bunions, and heredity can all contribute. Call us or book an appointment online as soon as you notice signs of a hammertoe so we can evaluate your foot and start the right treatment for you.

Treatment Approach and What to Expect

We thoroughly review your symptoms and medical history and examine your foot to diagnose the condition. During the physical exam, your doctor may reproduce your symptoms by manipulating your foot and studying the contractures of the toes. A digital X-ray helps evaluate the severity of the deformity and assess any bone changes that may have occurred. Once your hammertoes have been evaluated, we develop an individualized treatment plan suited to your needs.

If your hammertoe is still flexible, nonsurgical measures are often effective. These include padding corns and calluses to shield them from irritation, changing to shoes with a deep, roomy toe box and heels no higher than two inches, and wearing custom or over-the-counter orthotics to help control the muscle and tendon imbalance. Corticosteroid injections may ease pain and inflammation, while oral NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can reduce discomfort. Splints or small straps may also be applied to help realign the bent toe.

When a hammertoe becomes rigid and painful, or when an open sore develops, surgery may be needed. We have leading foot and ankle surgeons in Northern California who can address hammertoe along with related conditions like bunions during the same procedure. Your doctor will consider the extent of your deformity, the number of toes involved, your age, health status, and activity level when selecting the approach.

Recovery time varies depending on the individual and the procedure performed, and our team will guide you through each step so you can get back to comfortable movement.