Hammertoe Deformity: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

A hammertoe is a deformity when your toe bends downwards rather than pointing straight out. Even though it most commonly occurs on the second or third toe, any toe can be affected by a hammertoe. Common causes of hammertoe include arthritis, wearing improperly fitting shoes, pressure from a bunion, tightened ligaments or tendons in the foot, and/or a high foot arch among other causes. 

Hammertoes can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. Symptoms of hammertoe can include difficulty walking, inability to flex your foot, inability to wiggle your toes, and more. If you think you might have a hammertoe, it is important to call your podiatrist to have it looked at.  Your podiatrist will diagnose a hammertoe through physical exam and by possibly doing imaging tests.

Hammertoes can be treated in a variety of ways, depending upon the severity of the hammertoe. Your podiatrist will be able to recommend the best course of treatment. Treatments vary from changing the type of shoe, to wearing pads or insoles, to possibly stretching the toe. In severe cases, your podiatrist may recommend hammertoe surgery to be able to restore movement in your toe. 

The best way to avoid hammertoes is to wear the correct fitting shoes. Allowing room for your toes to wiggle is important to prevent feet injuries. Also, wearing high heels that are at most 2 inches lightens the pressure on your toes that higher heels would cause. 

As with all foot related problems, it is important to get in to see your podiatrist as soon as possible to avoid further complications. The quicker you are able to see your doctor, the quicker you will be able to go on treatment and the quicker you will have relief. 

Clubfoot Causes and Treatment

Clubfoot is a deformity where the infant’s foot is turned inward. This can make the bottom of the foot face sideways or even have it face upwards. Clubfoot is one of the more common congenital foot deformities. It affects approximately 1 in every 1000 infants with boys being twice as likely to have clubfoot as girls. Without clubfoot treatment, the foot will remain deformed and the child will most likely not be able to walk properly. With clubfoot treatment and potential clubfoot surgery, the majority of children are able to live with barely any trace of the original deformity.

There are two types of clubfoot: unilateral (only affecting one foot) and bilateral (affecting both feet). Clubfoot exists when the tendons that connect the leg muscles with the foot bones are short and tight. This causes the foot to twist inwards which makes it difficult to walk. Clubfoot can sometimes be diagnosed during ultrasounds.

Clubfoot can also be classified into two groups: isolated/idiopathic where the child has no other medical problems and nonisolated where the child has other medical problems. Clubfoot cannot improve without treatment. It is important to speak to a foot doctor about a course of treatment. Dr. Amber Shane offers words of encouragement for anyone suffering from a complicated foot or ankle issue including clubfoot, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-7gijDZnA0. She also talks about her experience in treating a man with this complicated issue

There are many ways of treating clubfoot, ranging from nonsurgical to clubfoot surgery that a trained foot doctor can perform. It is important to get treatment for clubfoot as otherwise it will remain deformed and the child will not be able to walk properly. Without treatment, it will be very painful for the child as he/she will not be able to walk and it will also limit the physical activity that he/she is able to participate in.

Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetic foot is a dangerous loss of sensation in the feet caused by damage to the nervous system. Often, this loss of sensation can lead to a diabetic foot sufferer not noticing wounds or injuries in the foot, which can lead to additional damage or infection.

Causes 

Diabetic foot is caused by diabetes, an insulin deficiency that can damage the nervous system, blood vessels and immune system. This damage can result in loss of feeling in the extremities, often in the feet.

Symptoms 

A common symptom of a diabetic foot is new or lasting numbness in the foot or leg. Other symptoms can include swelling, pain when walking, loss of hair on the legs and feet, and hard, shiny skin. Severe cases may result in open sores on the foot that can lead to infection.

Treatment

Treatment of diabetic foot is often dependent on keeping diabetes under control with proper diet, regular medication, exercise and physician care. Preventative care such as regular foot examination, elimination of obstacles in the home, proper footwear and stopping smoking can help prevent damage to the foot.

Source: Orlando Foot and Ankle Clinic

Tips for Keeping Your Feet Happy and Healthy

Don’t ignore foot pain. It is not normal. If you experience any type of persistent pain in the foot or ankle, please contact our office.

Inspect your feet regularly. Pay attention to changes in color and temperature. Look for thick or discolored nails (a sign of developing fungus), and check for cracks or cuts in the skin. Peeling or scaling on the soles of feet may indicate Athlete’s Foot. Any growth on the foot is not considered normal.

Wash your feet regularly, especially between the toes, and be sure to dry them completely.

Trim toenails straight across, but not too short. Be careful not to cut nails in corners or on the sides; this can lead to ingrown toenails. Persons with diabetes, poor circulation, or heart problems should not treat their own feet, because they are more prone to infection.

Make sure that your shoes fit properly. Purchase new shoes later in the day when feet tend to be at their largest, and replace worn out shoes as soon as possible.  Select and wear the right shoe for each sport or activity that you are engaged in (e.g., running shoes for running).

Alternate shoes, don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day.

Avoid walking barefooted. Your feet will be more prone to injury and infection. At the beach or when wearing sandals always use sunblock on your feet.

Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments.

Self-treatment may turn a minor problem into a major one.

Source: Orlando Foot & Ankle Clinic