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When ligaments and muscles grow weaker, your toes curl uncomfortably and painfully as a result of hammertoe. Diabetic Foot & Wound Center handles hammertoe to help patients with poor circulation and diabetes. Dr. Reuben Nieto offers Bakersfield hammertoe treatment through a fully personalized treatment approach. Call the practice or visit the site to book an appointment for advanced diagnosis and treatment for hammertoes.
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What is a Hammertoe?
A hammertoe is an arched toe that develops when ligaments and muscles get weaker, prompting the toe’s middle joint to bend out of shape. Hammertoe happens in smaller toes but is more common among the middle three.
Hammertoe develops gradually, gets less flexible, and more rigid over time. In most cases, you may fail to realize the deformity until after conclusive tests and diagnosis. The muscle grows limper, making the affected toe bend and curl into funny shapes.
Discovering Hammertoe
Apart from bent and curled toes, hammertoes cause unpleasant symptoms like:
- Redness
- Calluses
- Open sores
- Inflammation
- Burning irritation
- Pain when wearing shoes
Without treatment, hammertoes get painful and uncomfortable. Diabetic Foot & Wound Care offers timely intervention to improve your ability to walk without pain.
Causes of Hammertoes
Hammertoes are mainly caused by imbalances in your toe muscles and tendons, introducing extra pressure on your toe joint. Top risk factors for hammertoe include:
- Bunions
- Stroke
- Arthritis
- Nerve damage
- High arches
- Too tight of shoes
- Long toes
Wearing narrow shoes squishing the toes improves your chances of developing hammertoes. Previous injuries like severe breaks and stubs in the toes also improve your vulnerability.
Treatment for Hammertoe
In treating hammertoe, your provider applies a multi-faceted approach to relieve your pain and improve mobility. If you have calluses and corns, you should try padding the affected area to reduce irritation. You are advised to desist from wearing too tight, narrow, and pointed shoes.
Diabetic Foot and Wound Center houses a board-certified podiatric team that uses advanced approaches to treat hammertoe. Your doctor prepares you for custom-fit orthotic devices/shoe inserts molded to your foot’s shape for more cushion and support.
If you have hammertoes, wear spacious and breathable shoes to give your toes free maneuvering space to minimize injury.
If your condition is unresponsive to minimally invasive treatments, your provider may recommend surgery, especially for too painful and rigid hammertoes.
Other Services Offered at Diabetic Foot & Wound Care
Apart from hammertoes, you may visit the practice for a specialized approach to:
- Amputation prevention
- Athletes foot
- Bunions
- Charcot foot
- Diabetic foot care
- Foot and ankle surgery
- Foot pain
- Heel pain
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Ingrown toenail
- Leg ulcer
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Plantar fasciitis
- Toenail fungus
- Vascular testing
- Vascular ultrasound
- Walk-in wound clinic
- Wound debridement
Wrap Up
Hammertoe limits your life’s quality by limiting your ability to move and walk. Diabetic Foot & Wound Center offers advanced treatment options to help you regain full toe function. Contact the practice to book an appointment from your home or office today.
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