Foot Deformity Archives | Daniel J. Walters, DPM

Are your toes bent out of shape? If the middle knuckle seems to be permanently bent downward—a condition known as hammertoes—it’s best to address it as quickly as possible.

Sure, you might not feel any pain just yet. But a crooked toe is just the start. Over time, the once-flexible joint stops flexing entirely. Moving the toe can become very painful, and the tops and tips of your bent digits may no longer fit comfortably inside of a shoe. The pressure and friction this creates can become very distressing, and can cause secondary complications such as corns and blisters.

Foot With Hammertoes That said, many people put off seeking treatment for their hammertoes, either because it doesn’t hurt very much yet, or because they’re worried about surgery. But this is actually the exact wrong approach! Crooked toe conditions often can be addressed without any surgery at all, with painful symptoms resolved or delayed indefinitely—but you have to act early to get that benefit!

It is true that hammertoes will need surgery if you want to permanently fix them. However, straightening out your toes isn’t always the No. 1 goal. Instead, the main objective is keeping you active and fully mobile without toe pain getting in your way.

That’s our focus when you arrive at our office. We strive to take care of all your foot care problems simply and effectively, without expensive and unnecessary surgeries and with minimal intrusion in your day-to-day life. When hammertoes are still flexible and producing only limited pain, simple conservative remedies such as new shoes, prefabricated or custom orthotics, physical therapy, and exercise can help you keep them that way.

If you wait too long, unfortunately, surgery may become necessary to restore your feet to pain-free status. That said, our commitment to simple and effective treatment extends to these situations, too. That’s why Dr. Daniel Walters has trained extensively in minimally invasive surgical techniques, which allow him to minimize the size of the incision, risk of complications, and length of recovery as compared to more traditional surgeries. There is also no need for screws, pins, wires, or implants to be inserted. Not to mention the advantages of getting you in and out of our office with no expensive hospital stays on your bill!

If any of your toes are looking bent or crooked, we urge you to make an appointment with us as soon as possible, regardless of whether or not you’ve experienced any significant pain yet. We’d love to help you keep the pain away for as long as possible, with methods that are simple and conservative in nature. To see us in Garfield Ridge, Chicago, drop us a line by using our contact form, or call the office at (773) 586-0050.

After years of wear and tear, bad footwear, and active lifestyles, toes can really get bent out of shape. Crooked toes—those that are permanently bent downward at one or more knuckles (such as hammertoes) or even cross over one another—are very common, especially among women in their middle ages and older.

They are also progressive conditions, meaning that even if they aren’t painful now, without treatment they’re likely to get worse as you get older—toes get more crooked, and the bent joints lose flexibility until they’re rigidly locked in place.

When you first seek treatment for crooked toes, our initial priority is to use conservative treatments to relieve your pain. Unfortunately, conservative care cannot “fix” a bent toe deformity in the way you might imagine—the toe will remain bent. However, conservative care may well be able to reduce symptoms, restore foot function, and stop the deformity from getting worse. If you seek help early, this may be more than adequate to get you back on your feet again indefinitely.

The only way to fix a crooked toe permanently, however, is surgery. It’s the only way to put the bones and joints back into proper alignment, and if conservative treatment options prove inadequate it may be necessary to spare you from your pain and get you back to enjoying daily activities.

Not to worry, though! While we try to avoid surgery whenever possible, our team has extensive experience in minimally invasive surgical techniques for crooked toe deformities. Surgeries are performed under local anesthesia in our office—no need to check into an expensive hospital. Furthermore, because we use techniques that minimize incision size, we can achieve less swelling, less scarring, and faster healing and recovery times when compared to older surgical methods.

Our goal is always to do the best we can for you, helping you get back on your feet as quickly as possible—no unnecessary procedures, tests, or referrals. Whether your crooked toes can be managed conservatively or need surgical correction, we’ll give you an honest assessment of your situation and help you make the best choice for your own personal needs. If painful crooked toes are slowing you down, call Dr. Daniel J. Walters and our team in Garfield Ridge, Chicago today at (773) 586-0050.

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