Hammertoes Specialist

Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates

Podiatrists located in New York, NY & Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY

Having a hammertoe can lead to corns, stiffness, and joint pain that can become so uncomfortable, they start affecting your daily activities. At Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates, in Upper East Side Manhattan and Bay Ridge of Brooklyn, New York, you can meet with a dedicated podiatrist who designs a personalized hammertoe care package to help you get fast and effective relief. Book your hammertoe evaluation by clicking on the online scheduler or by calling either location directly.

Hammertoes Q & A

Why do hammertoes form?

Hammertoes are joint deformities that affect your smaller toes. Usually, your second toe is affected if it’s longer than your big toe since it has to scrunch up to make room for itself every time you slip on a pair of shoes.

If your smaller toe gets squished on a daily basis, an imbalance between connective tissues occurs. Muscles and tendons can no longer flatten out your toe since they’re so used to getting stuck in a bent position.

While having longer little toes and wearing snug-fitting shoes are often to blame when it comes to hammertoes, you also have an increased risk for other reasons. Having arthritis, inherited faulty foot mechanics, or even toe trauma can all lead to hammertoes over time.

What are the symptoms of hammertoes?

Hammertoes can be flexible, meaning you can still bend them, or they can become stiff and rigid. The symptoms you experience depend on whether your hammertoe has advanced into a more rigid state, as well as your daily activities. Depending on the severity of your hammertoe, you may have:

Limited range-of-motion
Corns or calluses
Pain and tenderness

The more hammertoes progress, the more discomfort they can cause. Before your hammertoes worsen any further, see how the expert podiatry team at Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates can help.

How are hammertoes treated?

If your hammertoe is still flexible, wearing properly fitting shoes with plenty of room in the toe box can often correct it. Your dedicated podiatrist can even teach you stretches to perform daily to help straighten out your hammertoe. Sometimes the following conservative remedies are also beneficial for hammertoes.

Custom orthotics
Corticosteroid injections
Specialized padding
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

If your hammertoe is becoming stiff or is already rigid, you might need hammertoe surgery. The team of top-ranked foot and ankle surgeons at Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates use minimally invasive techniques to realign tendons, reposition your toe, and remove deformed or injured bone. Modern hammertoe surgery requires little downtime.

Schedule your hammertoe evaluation at Hamilton Foot and Ankle Associates today. You can conveniently book either online or over the phone.

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