How your podiatrists in Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers, Plainfield, and Indianapolis, IN, can help if you have hammertoes

Hammertoes are ugly, and if you have a hammertoe, you already know how painful they can be. You may be wondering if there is anything you can do to help your toe return to normal. Hammertoes can indeed be fixed, but you may need the help of your podiatrist.

The podiatrists at Podiatry Associates of Indiana provide a wide range of foot and ankle services, including treatment of hammertoes. They have several convenient office locations in Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers, Plainfield, and Indianapolis, IN, to help you.

Hammertoes are caused by wearing tight shoes that don’t have enough room for your toes. They are made worse by wearing high heels, which push your feet forward. Your toes can become crushed together, causing your middle toe joint to bend inward. Inward bending causes your toe to jut outward, eventually resembling a hammer. Hammertoes typically form on the second, third, or fourth toe.

You can do a lot to prevent hammertoes from forming. You need to:

• Always wear comfortable shoes that have enough room for your toes
• Stretch each toe individually every day to keep your tendons and ligaments flexible
• Wear cushions or pads inside your shoes to eliminate irritation
• Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medication

For stubborn, painful hammertoes that don’t get better, it’s best to visit your podiatrist, who may recommend:

• Splints and other devices to help realign your toe joint
• Custom-fit orthotics or footwear to correct a muscle imbalance
• Surgical therapy to realign the toe joint

Hammertoes can be painful and disruptive to your life, but relief is just a phone call away! To find out more about how to prevent and treat hammertoes, call the podiatrists at Podiatry Associates of Indiana. You can reach them in any of their offices in Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers, Plainfield, and Indianapolis, IN, by calling (866) 344-FEET, so call today!