Our Services / Hammertoes

Hammertoes services offered in Columbus, GA

At least 7 million Americans have a hammertoe today, and they’re one of the most common structural abnormalities in the foot. At Columbus Foot & Ankle, P.C., the team of outstanding podiatrists, including Troy Espiritu, DPM, FACFAS, and Nicholas Smith, DPM, MS, FACFAS, offer patient-focused medical solutions for hammertoes in a newly-built modern facility in Columbus, Georgia. If you have a hammertoe and need help now, book your appointment online or call the office today.

Hammertoes Q & A

What are hammertoes?

A hammertoe is a structural abnormality where tendon and muscle imbalances cause one of your smaller toes (usually the second, third, or fourth toe) to bend upwards from the middle joint. That creates an appearance that resembles a hammer, thus the name of the condition.

The types of hammertoe include:

Flexible hammertoe

A flexible hammertoe is still bendable, so you can straighten the toe before it moves back into its bent position.

Semi-rigid hammertoe

A semi-rigid hammertoe is still movable with some effort, but it’s harder to move because the joint is starting to freeze in place.

Rigid hammertoe

A rigid hammertoe is frozen in place, so the joint isn’t movable at all.

Without treatment, a flexible hammertoe can eventually turn semi-rigid and then rigid. People with arthritis are more likely to develop rigid hammertoes and, therefore, may experience a faster progression from flexible to rigid hammertoe.

What kind of problems do hammertoes cause?

Issues due to hammertoes are more significant than you might expect. Some common effects of hammertoe include:

Pain on top of the toe when you wear shoes with enclosed toes
Joint stiffness or pain when moving your toe
Joint swelling
Skin redness and roughness
Corns on top of the affected joint

Hammertoes can also cause calluses and pain in the ball of your foot because they can change your weight distribution and the way you move.

Hammertoes and bunions often occur simultaneously, so it’s common to experience pain and other symptoms on the side of your big or little toe alongside your hammertoe symptoms.

How are hammertoes treated?

Treatment of hammertoes can include both conservative and advanced strategies based upon your particular needs. With flexible and semi-rigid hammertoe, treatment approaches, such as padding, taping, custom orthotics, and medication, may relieve the pain and re-establish the proper balance in your affected toe.

If you have a rigid hammertoe, the team can recommend a specialized surgery to restore the balance in your foot and prevent the joint from contracting abnormally again.

In the future, wearing supportive shoes, using custom orthotics, and avoiding high heels can all help to reduce the risk of another hammertoe.

For hammertoe treatment from the premier foot specialists in Columbus, call Columbus Foot & Ankle, P.C., or click on the provided booking tool to schedule your appointment now.