Once you have a hammertoe, the bad news is it doesn’t just go away. Q. Is there anything you can do for a hammertoe? A. The abnormal bending of the toe known as hammertoe can become increasingly uncomfortable as the toe curls under and becomes stiff and rigid over time. A corn, or thickened layer of skin, often develops as the elevated part of the toe rubs against one’s shoes and can become inflamed or infected. “Patients may come in and ask, ‘Can you remove the corn?’ But it’s not really a skin problem — it’s a bone problem. The contracture has to be removed surgically,” said Dr. Jacqueline Sutera, a doctor of podiatric medicine and surgery and a spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association. “Once you have it, the bad news is, it doesn’t just go away.” Some people have a genetic predisposition toward developing a hammertoe or may have one from birth. Others develop a hammertoe after an injury. But wearing tight shoes, hand-me-down shoes or narrow or pointy shoes encourages development of the condition, especially if there is a genetic predisposition. Hammertoes are also often accompanied by bunions, bony bumps that form at the base of the big toe and crowd the toes even more within the shoe, exacerbating the situation. Though surgery can fix the problem, Dr. Sutera cautioned against rushing into the operating room, suggesting patients consider surgery only if they are “miserable” and unable to find shoes that accommodate their feet; if the hammertoe limits their physical activity and prevents them from walking or exercising; or if, after changing shoes and trying anti-inflammatory medications, “you’re constantly in pain.” She warned against using medicated corn remover pads and over-the-counter acid products to remove the corns, saying such remedies can be dangerous, especially if the corn is infected or the patient has diabetes or poor circulation. “We do not recommend those,” she said. “If it’s bothering you, see your foot doctor.” Source
