About this topic
Your toes are made of small bones. Strong bands of tissue called ligaments hold the bones together. Other strong bands called tendons connect muscles to bones. A hammer toe is a deformity of a toe. The joint between the first and second bones in the toe rises upwards. This causes the toe to look like a hammer. The ligaments and the tendons become tight and shorten. ‚
There are two types of hammer toes: ‚
- At first, you may be able to bend and straighten the toe. This is a flexible hammer toe.
- Over time, you may not be able to move the toe. This is a rigid or fixed hammer toe.
This problem is most common in the second toe. Often with a hammer toe, the skin thickens at the top of the toe. This is a corn. Thickness on the underside of the toe is a callus. The sooner you get treatment for a hammer toe, the better the outcome. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Follow your doctors advice about wearing comfortable shoes:
- Avoid heels higher than 2 inches.
- Wear shoes with wide toe boxes.
- Shoes should be 1/2 inch longer than your longest toe
- Wear toe straighteners, splints, cushions, or pads as your doctor suggests.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Prop your foot on pillows to help with swelling.
- Do exercises for strengthening and stretching the toes.
- Towel crunches ¢ ˆ ’ Sit on a chair in a room that has a wood, tile, or linoleum floor. Place a towel under your feet. Bunch up the towel under your feet by curling your toes. Do this until you get to the end of the towel. Now push the towel back out by bending and straightening your toes. Repeat this exercise 5 to 10 times.
- Toe stretch ¢ ˆ ’ Bring your foot close to you. Pull your foot and toes up towards your head. With your fingers, grab your toe and gently pull up further until you feel a stretch. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. You doctor may have you go see a specialist. You may need to see a foot doctor called a podiatrist. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Soften thick skin areas
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to rest your foot for a while. You should not do physical activity that makes your health problem worse. If you run, work out, or play sports, you may not be able to do those things until your health problem gets better. ‚
What problems could happen?
- More deformity in the foot
- Trouble walking
- The hammer toe could become fixed and need surgery to correct it
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. Avoid wearing high heels and tight shoes.
- Keep a healthy weight. Being overweight may put extra stress on your feet.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Pain or swelling gets worse
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain or swelling.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00160 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚