Jo Wood, ex-wife of Rolling Stone’s Ronnie Wood, has suffered from hammertoes, a condition that for her was hereditary and deformed her second toe. The pain eventually had gotten so bad that Wood decided to get surgery in which the surgeon had to remove a portion of the bone to realign the toe. Although there are non-surgical treatments, surgery is an option if pain does not recede. Eighteen months after her surgery, Wood was back to her regular routine.

Hammertoes can be a painful condition to live with. If you are suffering from hammertoes, contact one of our podiatrists of University Foot and Ankle Center, LLC. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that affects the joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toes of your feet. It is a painful foot condition in which these toes curl and arch up, which can often lead to pain when wearing footwear.

Symptoms

• Pain in the affected toes
• Development of corns or calluses due to friction
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Contracture of the toes

Causes

• Genetics – people who are genetically predisposed to hammertoe are often more susceptible
• Arthritis – because arthritis affects the joints in your toes, further deformities stemming from arthritis can occur
• Trauma – direct trauma to the toes could potentially lead to hammertoe
• Ill-fitting shoes – undue pressure on the front of the toes from ill-fitting shoes can potentially lead to the development of hammertoe

Treatment

• Orthotics – custom made inserts can be used to help relieve pressure placed on the toes and therefore relieve some of the pain associated with it
• Medications – oral medications such as anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs could be used to treat the pain and inflammation hammertoes causes. Injections of corticosteroids are also sometimes used
• Surgery – in more severe cases where the hammertoes have become more rigid, foot surgery is a potential option

If you have any questions please contact our offices located in East Brunswick and Monroe Township, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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