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Hammertoes

Hammertoes

Hammertoes services offered in Camarillo, California


If you have hammertoes, it’s crucial to seek treatment, as they only worsen over time. At Align Foot & Ankle Center, in Camarillo, California, experienced podiatrist Hai-En Peng, DPM, FACFAS and the team offer several types of treatment for hammertoes, including physical therapy, shoe inserts, and when necessary, surgery. Call the nearest office to request a hammertoe consultation today, or book online.

Hammertoes Q&A

What are hammertoes?

A hammertoe is a degenerative condition that causes a toe joint to stay bent. Hammertoes occur because of an imbalance between the tendons and ligaments that hold the toe straight. 

At first, a hammertoe bend is often mild. As the bend worsens, your joint stiffens, affecting your mobility and quality of life.

What are the symptoms of hammertoes?

Symptoms of hammertoes include:

  • A bent toe joint
  • Pain or swelling at the top of your toe
  • Difficulty moving your toe joint
  • Redness and inflammation
  • Pain in the ball of your foot

If the toe rubs up against your shoes or socks, you might also develop a blister or an open wound.

What causes hammertoes?

Hammertoes form because of an imbalance in the soft tissues that hold your toe straight. This imbalance may occur for various reasons, including:

  • Genetics
  • Wearing shoes that are too tight or too narrow
  • Having an underlying health problem, like diabetes
  • Experiencing previous trauma (like breaking your toe, or dislocating your toe joint)

If you have a toe that’s stiff or swollen and it doesn’t improve with at-home treatments, contact the team at Align Foot & Ankle Center immediately.

How are hammertoes diagnosed?

To diagnose hammertoes, the team at Align Foot & Ankle Center reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. Next, they complete a podiatric exam, checking your toe and the affected joint for redness, bruising, and swelling.

Your provider gently moves your toe side to side and back and forth, testing its flexibility and range of motion. They also order X-rays and an MRI to get a closer look at the bones, joints, and soft tissues in your foot and toe.

How are hammertoes treated?

At Align Foot & Ankle Center, the team treats hammertoes using conservative and minimally invasive treatments. They might recommend:

  • Shoe inserts
  • Taping your toes
  • Insulating padding to relieve pressure
  • Cortisone shots
  • Sports medicine
  • Wearing more comfortable shoes

If your pain is severe or it prevents you from work and other routine activities, the team might recommend surgery. During hammertoe surgery, your provider uses special tools to release the soft tissues holding your toe in a bent position. Then, they realign your joint and insert a pin or implant to prevent the hammertoe from recurring. For more flexible hammertoe deformities, there is a minimally invasive procedure that's done in the office that can correct it permanently.

Call the nearest Align Foot & Ankle Center office to receive treatment for a hammertoe today, or click the online booking tool.