One of the most common foot problems is hammertoe. Some people have a mild hammer toe but others have such a severe problem that they need to be treated with surgery. The condition is usually noticed when a corn develops on the top of the toe and becomes painful. Usually, the deformity exists in one toe. The base of the toe points upward and the

One of the most common foot problems is hammertoe. Some people have a mild hammer toe but others have such a severe problem that they need to be treated with surgery. The condition is usually noticed when a corn develops on the top of the toe and becomes painful. Usually, the deformity exists in one toe. The base of the toe points upward and the end of the toe points down. The corn would form at the base of the toe where it points upward. A corn will usually form because the person is wearing tight shoes with not enough room for the toes. While some people are more structurally prone to develop hammer toes than others, tight footwear is a very prevalent cause of the condition. Wearing tight shoes provide the pressure that causes the symptoms. If no one ever wore shoes, than hammertoe would not develop painful corns and would not need surgery unless the hammer toe is extremely deformed. Oftentimes the condition can be treated by removing the corn and buying larger shoes, but sometimes the problem is so severe that surgery is required. It is possible that hammer toe surgery will be required.

Per a leading Long Beach Foot Doctor, in the early stages where the toe is still flexible, the deformity can be corrected by relaxing the tendons. This is done through a small incision, which often doesn’t require stitches. If the hammertoe is still present, an incision is made on the toe and a small portion of the bone is removed. Some podiatrists minimize visible scarring by placing the incision between the toes. This eliminates highly visible scars left by the traditional incision placement on top of the toes. This allows the toe to relax and assume a straighter position. Following this procedure, the patient can return to comfortable shoes and resume normal activity. As with any surgery there will be a period of recovery. During this procedure, pressure cannot be placed on the foot. There is likely to be swelling and pain. They can reduce post-surgical discomfort and make pain manageable as the toes and joints heal. The recovery time for this surgery is usually four to six weeks. During this time the patient will need to wear a cast and probably use crutches.

It is very important for parents to make sure they are buying well fitting shoes for their children. If the child’s foot grows rapidly, then it is easy for them to develop a hammer toe by wearing ill-fitting shoes. High profile counties like San Diego and Orange County Foot Surgery patients have many options including access to top podiatrists. Often doing research online will enable them to find the best foot doctor for them! Reading patient reviews can go a long way towards finding a quality foot doctor. For more details please visit http://www.kimfoot.com

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