Hammer & Claw Toe Experts in Waxahachie, Corsicana & Ennis, TX

Get Comprehensive Hammertoe Treatment From 5-Star-Rated Podiatrists

Hammertoes, also called claw or mallet toes, refer to toes that are bent in an unnatural way, and are named after their resemblance to the hammers in a piano. The offending toe or toes will begin to bend upward and, over time, can become stiff and unbendable. This stiffness can cause you discomfort and pain, creating corns and blisters where your toe rubs against your shoe.

People who suffer from hammer & claw toe in Waxahachie, Corsicana & Ennis, TX, have turned to the award-winning podiatrists at Family Foot & Ankle Centers since 1999.

Our podiatrists want to treat your foot problems and educate you on your hammertoes. Knowing more about the source of your foot or ankle pain is empowering and allows you to choose a treatment plan that is right for you.

What Is The Difference Between a  Hammertoe and A Claw Toe?

A hammertoe occurs when the muscles on top of the toe are not balanced with the muscles on the bottom of the toe.  This causes the toe to bend upward in the middle.  Any of the small toes can be affected but it most commonly occurs to the middle three toes. At first, the toe may be able to be straightened flat against the ground and is referred to as a flexible hammertoe.  With time, most flexible hammertoes will become stiffer and can no longer be pulled straight.  These are referred to as rigid hammertoes and are more severe and difficult to treat.

A claw toe is similar to a hammertoe and is also due to a muscle imbalance.  In this condition, the toe bends upward at the base and down at the tip of the toe.  This gives the toe and appearance similar to a bird claw, hence the name claw toe.  It is common to develop a corn at the tip of the toe due to pressure.

What Causes Hammertoes?

A toe begins to curl when the muscles that control the toe are not balanced. If one group of toe muscles is stronger than another, the toe can contract into a bent shape. This contraction of the muscle can be caused by many things, but the most common causes of hammertoes are:

• Frequent wearing of high-heeled or narrow-toed shoes 
• A foot structure issue present since birth
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Stroke, cerebral palsy, or degenerative disc disease
• Being bedridden for a long period of time
• A lack of feeling in your feet, often caused by diabetes
• An injury to your toe – such as a break, dislocation, or jam

No matter the cause of your painfully deformed toes, our expert podiatrists are ready and able to create a custom hammertoe treatment plan suited to your unique needs. Our goal is to address the root cause of your pain and make that pain stop forever. We are only satisfied when your feet are pain-free.

What Are The Symptoms of Hammertoes?

The symptoms of a hammer toe include the following:

• Pain at the top of the bent toe due to pressure from shoes. A corn  (callus tissue) may form on top of the toe from pressure.
• At times, a corn may form on the tip of the toe
• Redness and swelling in the toe, especially on top of the toe at the joint. 
• Stiffness in the toe with pain when trying to bend it straight. 
• Pain in the bottom ball of the foot 

How Are Hammertoes Prevented and Treated?

• Non-medicated hammer toe pads worn on the toe can remove pressure and give relief. Soft tube foam and silipos pads are available at most stores and are a good first treatment. Make sure there is no acid in the pads you buy.

• Wear a shoe that is a little wider with a deep toe box to keep the shoe from rubbing on the toes. Avoid cramming the toes into a unnatural position.

• Avoid heels that are more than 2 inches tall. Heels change the direction of pull of toe muscles, leading to hammertoes.

• Custom Orthtotics that are made by our podiatrists can incorporate different pads and cutouts to help relieve pressure areas. These prescription inserts and also help to control muscle imbalances that lead to hammertoe development.

• Surgical correction- The only way to permanently correct a hammertoe is surgical treatment. Treatment by your foot specialist at Family Foot & Ankle Centers will depend on the amount of flexibility in your toe. For hammertoes that can be pulled straight, may benefit from a simple in office procedure called a flexor tenotomy. This procedure releases the tendon that is bending the toe and results are immediate with no down time. 

In more severe cases, when your toe cannot be pulled straight, the toe may require outpatient surgical treatment. 

To learn more about your options for hammertoe treatment, visit Family Foot & Ankle Centers. Call or use the online appointment request at the top of this page. We look forward to helping you!

Experience Our Award-Winning Care for Hammertoes in Waxahachie, Corsicana & Ennis, TX Today!

Schedule an appointment today by calling us at 972-597-4132 or by clicking here to use our convenient online form. We offer same-day appointments and have bilingual Spanish-speaking professionals on staff for your convenience. During your appointment, our team will be happy to answer all your questions about our treatments, our office, our flexible payment options, and anything else you may want to know about us! Call today – we can’t wait to help you live your life pain-free!

As the premier podiatry centers in Waxahachie, Corsicana and Ennis, TX, our foot doctors and team at Family Foot & Ankle Centers also provide 5-star podiatry care to patients in our surrounding areas.  We proudly serve patients in Navarro and Ellis counties and surrounding areas including Red Oak, Midlothian, Desoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Arlington and Mansfield. The Foot Specialists at Family Foot & Ankle Centers are improving lives one foot at a time.