Hammer Toes – Tips For Preventing Surgery

Hammer toes can cause pain in the ball of the foot. The ball of the foot is the thick area just behind and below the three middle toes. Of course, there are many causes of pain in the ball of the foot.

In women, high heels are one of the common causes. If you have yet to have an evaluation by a physician, a hammertoe might not be the cause of your problem. The first bit of advice is to try a more comfortable pair of shoes. If the pain is resolved, then you can assume that your shoes were the cause.

People often buy shoes out of a sense of style. Some women and men own dozens of pairs in numerous colors and styles. But, a quick look at them will show that they are, for the most part, poorly designed for good foot health.

It’s okay to wear high heels or dress shoes with pointy toes, as long as you only do so occasionally. It is the day in and day out pressure, caused by these kinds of shoes, that creates the problem.

If you already have hammer toes, special cushions can be used to straighten out the toe while you are standing or walking. As long as you are wearing practical shoes, large enough in the toe box, the pads will stop the rubbing and irritation on the top of the toe and reduce pressure on the ball of the foot.

Hammertoe cushions are inexpensive solutions. If you allow the pressure to continue year after year, you may eventually need orthopedic surgery, which is costly, initially more painful and requires time for recovery. If you are concerned about the appearance of orthopedic shoes or “practical” ones, think how you will feel wearing a large boot-like cast as you recover from surgery to correct the hammer toes.

The surgery is similar to the one done to correct bunions, which is actually another kind of joint deformity. In both cases, a portion of the bone is removed and pins are inserted to hold the toes straight.

In some cases, the tendons are still too tight and start to pull the toes back inward, again. Additional surgery may be necessary. The recovery time is usually around six weeks, but the foot and toe may remain swollen for several months. Because of this, surgery is typically chosen as a last resort for hammer toes.

We have really been victims of the fashion shoe industry for many years. Luckily, some manufacturers want to help, not hurt, the health of our feet.

You can say that it is the individual’s choice about what type of shoes to wear. But, when everyone else is wearing a certain style, it’s hard to be practical.

Luckily, practical shoes have become more stylish. They are available in every color imaginable. You just won’t find any pointy-toed styles.

In the past, the solutions for hammer toes were not good. Today, there are lots of things that you can do. But, the first step is to buy some good shoes.