If you’re living with hammertoe, you probably think most people take the straight extension of their toes for granted. But you aren’t stuck with your curled-under toe or toes forever. At Parkway Podiatry in Brooklyn, New York, Gary Saphire, DPM, offers his patients a wide range of hammertoe treatments. If you're in the Bensonhurst or Gravesend neighborhoods, get started with the treatment option that works for you by calling the office or scheduling your appointment online today.
Hammertoe is a condition that causes your toe to bend downward, curling under instead of extending straight out. It affects the joint in the middle of your toe, causing it to bend when your toe is at rest. This condition can affect any of your toes, but it’s most common in the second and third toes.
Hammertoe isn’t always painful, but it can get in the way of your daily activities. It can prevent you from being able to bend your toe and may rub in closed-toed shoes. It can also cause corns or calluses.
Some people are born with this condition, although some people develop it over time. One of the leading causes of hammertoe is wearing ill-fitting shoes, including shoes that are too tight or have a pointed toe. Women tend to get hammertoe more than men, thanks in part to the fact that they regularly wear high-heeled shoes.
Some of the other causes of hammertoe include:
Absolutely. In fact, Dr. Saphire has years of experience offering his patients a wide range of highly effective hammertoe treatments.
The treatment he chooses for you depends on the severity of your hammertoe. For example, if you can still move the affected toe, he may prescribe different footwear to give the toe ample space along with specific exercises. These exercises help to strengthen and straighten your toe. He can also make custom orthotics, or inserts you add to your shoes to properly cushion the toe.
If you can’t flex your toe, he offers surgery to correct the toe joint, relieving any pain and restoring mobility to the toe. Hammertoe surgery is an outpatient procedure, which means you can head home to rest on the same day as your procedure.
After your surgery, the Parkway Podiatry team gives you a detailed care program. Generally, this includes staying off the foot as much as possible for a set amount of time. This allows the surgery site to heal as quickly as possible so that you can get back to your usual routine.
Get started with your hammertoe treatment by calling Parkway Podiatry or scheduling an appointment with Dr. Saphire online.
