Hammertoes: Relief for the Pounding Pain

December 1998

Dr. Donald Kushner

Abnormal bone length or an inherited muscle balance can make one or more small toes buckle under, causing their joints to contract. This eventually causes the tendons to shorten. Corns, which are build-ups of dead cells where shoes press and rub, often form on top of the contracted joints and may become infected and irritated. Two of the most common types of hammertoes are Flexible hammertoes and ridged hammertoes.  A flexible hammertoe may progress to ridged hammertoes over time, however, when hammertoes are flexible, you can straighten the buckled joint with your hand. A ridged hammertoe is fixed. You can no longer straighten it with your hand. Corns, irritation, pain, and loss of function may be more severe and a portion of the joint may need to be surgically removed and the toe straightened.

Curled fifth toe is when the little toe curls inward underneath its neighbor, so that the nail faces outward.  With this inherited problem, the fat pad on the bottom of the toe loses contact with the ground. Corns and pain may result.

Foot surgery is generally elective; you and your Podiatrist should decide whether and when to have it performed. While each surgery is unique, there are three basic goals: to relieve pain, to restore function, and to improve the appearance of your feet. If you have foot problems, you are not alone.  Statistics report that four out of five adults suffer from some sort of foot problem. For hammertoes and all other foot pain problems, you should consult your Podiatrist.

Dr. Donald Kushner is a practicing Podiatrist at The Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic. Dr. Kushner can be reached at 216-231-5612