Hammer toes x-rays are sometimes ordered when a patient has pain on the bottom or in the ball of the foot, especially if the deformity is not obvious. Redness on the top of the affected joint is often the first sign. If the redness is noticeable, your doctor might not order an X-ray.
Physical examination is sometimes the only necessary diagnostic tool. After evaluating the location of a person’s pain, if pain is present, and physically manipulating the joints, it is often possible to see the stiffness that is symptomatic.
During the early stages, before obvious deformity occurs, it is possible to correct the problem by improving flexibility. Exercises geared towards stretching the tendons and increasing muscle strength may help. But, it all depends on the severity or advancement of the deformity.
Accompanying problems are another factor that helps to determine treatment. A condition called “cross-over-toe” can accompany a hammertoe and a bunion on the big toe. The root cause of this problem is the bunion.
During hammer toes x-rays, the bunion would be seen in views taken from the top of the foot. They occur in the first joint (closest to the foot) of the big toe. In the X-ray, the joint will appear enlarged and the toe will point towards the others, to varying degrees.
If the bunion is not corrected, there will be continued pressure on the second toe, which may cause pain, blistering, corns or calluses. Eventually, the second toe develops the hammer-appearance and in order to accommodate the deformity in the big toe, the second toe becomes an overlapping or cross-over-toe.
Like many other problems affecting the health of the feet, hammertoes and bunions are often caused by poorly fitting shoes. Narrow, pointy-toed shoes are common causes, but over-pronation may be involved, too.
Hammer toes x-rays may not reveal over-pronation. Taking an imprint of the bottom of the foot is the usual method of diagnosis. A low or absent arch will be present, which can be observed on the imprint.
In over-pronation, the heel angles inward. So, instead of balanced pressure throughout the foot, more pressure is placed on the inside area, the side with the arch.
Examining the person’s posture and appearance of their knees is another diagnostic method. In severely pronated feet, the person appears knock-kneed.
If your doctor orders hammer toes x-rays, he or she may also do these other diagnostic tests to find related problems and come up with an effective treatment plan. If over-pronation is a problem, orthopedic insoles may be used to straighten to provide support and reduce the pressure on the knees and other lower-body joints.
These are not problems that should be overlooked or taken lightly. The health of your feet affects the health of your total body. Deformities can become permanent. The irritation and inflammation caused by the initial problem can contribute to arthritis in other joints of the body.
So, if your doctor orders hammer toes x-rays, take his advice. Before you even visit your podiatrist, consider buying more practical shoes. That’s the first step.