How to Treat a Toe Deformity
Deformed toes don’t look or work like they should. Various toe deformities can affect how you walk and what styles of shoes you can wear.
Some examples include:
Bunions
A bunion is a largely hereditary condition that causes the joint at the base of the big toe to move sideways. A bunionette, also called a tailor’s bunion, affects the pinky toe. Bunions tend to get worse when you wear narrow-toed shoes and high heels.
Claw toes, mallet toes, and hammertoes
All describe toes with an abnormal and fixed bend at one or more joints. Bent toe joints can arise from poor footwear, injuries, strokes, nerve damage, or family history. Joints permanently fixed in a bent position can develop corns from constant friction against your shoes. The abnormal joint structure also changes the position of the surrounding muscles and tendons, which can cause painful toe cramping.
Overlapping/underlapping toes
Any toe can cross over or under its neighbor due to simple heredity, a muscle imbalance, or the influence of another toe deformity.
It’s important to note that all of these toe problems are progressive. Catching and treating them early can prevent them from getting worse. Not treating them at all may lead you toward pain and permanent deformity that can only be fixed with surgery.
No need to rush into the operating room!
Our podiatrists can help you manage your toe deformity without surgery. Conservative treatments such as custom orthotics, splints, toe spacers, and physical therapy can go a long way toward easing your pain and keeping the problem from worsening.
However, it may make sense to consider a surgical fix if:
- Your toe pain keeps you up at night
- You’re having trouble walking
- You find some yoga poses, lunges, or other exercises impossible
- You’re constantly dealing with open sores on your toes.
Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, Dr. Jim Swienconek, Dr. Rachel Robinson, and Dr. Courtney Yoder, will evaluate the severity of your toe issues, and together, we can decide the best course of treatment for you. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio, at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.
