What kind of doctor fixes hammer toe?

What kind of doctor fixes hammer toe?

Home treatment, including changing shoes and toe exercises, often work. An orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist can help a person correct the problem before surgery becomes necessary, so anyone experiencing symptoms of hammer toe should speak to their doctor before allowing it to get worse.

Can a hammer toe be straightened without surgery?

At first, the toe maintains flexibility and can be straightened, though not easily. At this point, your hammer toe can be treated without surgery. But without the proper treatment your toe will eventually become rigid, unable to straighten whether you are wearing shoes or not.

What is the best way to straighten a hammer toe?

Your doctor or physical therapist may be able to suggest more exercises.

1. Gently pull on your toes to stretch the bent joints. For example, if a joint bends up, gently stretch it down.
2. Do towel curls. Put a towel flat under your feet and use your toes to crumple it.
3. Do marble pickups.

How long is recovery for hammer toe surgery?

The recovery time following hammer toe surgery can vary depending on the procedure performed. In general, it takes approximately 6 weeks to 3 months to fully recover from surgery. Many patients can walk immediately following surgery in a stiff-soled, surgical shoe or boot.

How long does a PIN stay in a toe after hammertoe surgery?

You will have a pin in your toe for 4 weeks after surgery. This pin will be removed in the office at your second post-op appointment. You will be given a post-op shoe to use after surgery. You should use this shoe for walking for a total of 4 weeks after surgery.

Do toe straighteners work for hammer toes?

A hammer toe orthotic doesn’t straighten the bone the way a splint that’s applied to a broken bone does. This is because the bone itself isn’t broken when you have hammer toe. Rather, the muscles that bend the joint have contracted, causing the bend in your toe.

What is the difference between hammer toe and claw toe?

The Hammertoes curve at the middle joint, forcing the toe down. They may be followed by plates. Claw toes usually affect multiple toes at once, curving around the joint where the toes meet the foot. The claw toes are pointed back at the first joint, then flat at the middle joint.