Do you have a painful hammertoe? Your Olney, Camp Springs/Clinton, Silver Spring, and Kensington, MD, podiatrists at Family Foot and Ankle Associates of Maryland can recommend a few strategies and treatments that will help relieve pain and stiffness.
What you can do about your hammertoe at home
A hammertoe occurs when your toe becomes bent at a right angle. At first, you'll be able to straighten your toe by pressing on it. If you don't treat your condition, your toe may eventually become rigid. You can improve your comfort and keep your toe flexible by:
- Changing Your Footwear: Wearing shoes that are too tight can irritate your hammertoe. Look for low-heeled shoes that have plenty of room in the toe area, or if the weather's warm, switch to sandals and open-toed shoes.
- Pad Your Hammertoe: Painful corns and calluses can form on the top of your toe if it rubs against your shoes. Applying pads to your hammertoe will reduce friction and pain.
- Exercise Your Toe: Toe exercises help keep your hammertoe flexible. Exercises can be as simple as picking up small objects with your toes or scrunching a towel between your toes.
- Take Anti-Inflammatory Medication: Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium decrease both pain and inflammation. Ice packs can also reduce pain and inflammation.
How your podiatrist can help you
It's a good idea to visit your Olney, Camp Springs/Clinton, Silver Spring, and Kensington, MD, foot doctors if home treatments don't help or if your toe has become rigid. Your podiatrist may recommend one or more of these treatment options:
- Padding and Taping: Padding and taping your toe reduces pain and improves the position of your toe.
- Cortisone Injections: Injections can ease pain and inflammation if over-the-counter medications aren't helpful.
- Orthotics: Orthotics are prescription shoe inserts that cushion your foot, redistribute your weight, and may even prevent your condition from worsening.
- Surgery: If other treatments aren't helpful, surgery may be needed to straighten your toe.
Are you struggling with a painful hammertoe? Schedule an appointment with your podiatrists in Olney, Camp Springs/Clinton, Silver Spring, and Kensington, MD. Get in touch with Family Foot and Ankle Associates in Maryland by calling (301) 924-5044 for the Olney office, (301) 868-7670 for the Camp Springs office, (301) 439-0300 for the Silver Spring office, or (301) 942-8110 for the Kensington office.