Hammer toe is a deformity of the foot in which one or more of your toes is permanently bent or curved downward, like a claw. You can be born with hammer toe, but it is more common to develop the condition during your middle adult years. A podiatrist can offer diagnosis and treatment of this painful foot condition. Sometimes, surgery is an option.

Symptoms of Hammer Toe

When you have hammer toe, the middle joint of the toe is bent. At first, you may be able to straighten the toe, but over time, it will stay permanently bent. You may develop a corn on the top of the toe and a callus on the sole of your foot at the base of the affected toe. Other common symptoms of hammer toe include pain and an inability to move the affected toe.

Causes of Hammer Toe

A podiatrist will work to establish the cause of your hammer toe as a way of preventing it from happening in any of your other toes. Some of the most common causes of hammer toe include arthritis and a family history of foot and toe disorders. Ill-fitting shoes are the most common cause of hammer toe. If you wear shoes that are too pointy, too tight, or too small, you are more likely to develop hammer toe. Pointy high-heeled shoes are a common culprit of hammer toe.

Non-Surgical Treatments

You might consider changing your footwear to shoes that fit your feet properly. Your doctor can make recommendations about types of shoes and help you to measure your foot so that you can select the correct shoe size. You can also buy padding to put around your affected toe and to fit over the callused area and any corns that you have on the toe.

Your doctor may also recommend orthotic devices, and can fit you with customized orthotics or splints to realign your toe. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help to relieve hammer toe pain and inflammation.

When to Consider Surgery for Hammer Toe

When you cannot move your toe and non-surgical treatments have not relieved your pain, your doctor may recommend surgery. You may also need surgery for hammer toe if you have developed a sore on the toe that will not heal. The recovery time for hammer toe surgery is about six weeks.