I have a hammer toe. My podiatrist is sending me to a physical therapist. He says if this does not help I may need surgery to correct this condition. does any one have information on this subject?

When I was a child, all of my toes except my big toes were hammertoes. Somehow all but 2 on each foot straightened out. No one has ever had me go to physical therapy or suggested surgery for them. Perhaps it is because I have quite a few foot and orthopedic problems: flat feet, left foot about 1 size larger than right, right leg 3/8 of an inch longer than my left, and scoliosis. I also have mild cerebral palsy.
To help my toes survive, I just wear shoes that are a little wide in the toes.

Does your hammertoe cause pain,etc?

Hope everything goes well,
Blackbelt

Why is he sending you to a physical therapist? They can't offer you any help. Surgery usually works fine. What are your complaints? Do the toes hurt? Can you make them straight by bending them? If not they are what we call rigid hammertoes. If you can bend them then that is what we call flexible hammertoes. Have you tried shoes with a deeper toebox? Do you have hard calluses on top of your toes? Hammertoes are not physical therapy problems. You are wasting your time and your insurance company's money by going to see one with the complaint of a hammertoe.

I have been to physical therapy 3 times now.My doctor wanted me to learn some stretching techniques. I am doing the stretches at home and hope to gain strength in my foot to stop the hammer toe from becoming rigid. The phsical therapist manipulates my foot and I think it hurts more afterward.The pain shoots up my foot than to my knee and that starts to hurt also.I than begin to limp. I don't know what to do now.

There is no clinical data that suggests stretching exercises to prevent hammertoes rom becoming rigid. Just out of curiosity, what type of stretches do you perform? As for the joint manipulation, I'd be very careful. You can develop a stress fracture of the metatarsal neck if overzealous manipulation of the joint occurs. Then you're in a walking cast for 4-6 weeks. If your hammertoe hurt inthe joint, then you should probably have it corrected. However, if it is a cosmetic problem and is not painful, then surgery may not be the answer. A deep, toe box shoe should help with the pain. GOod Luck

The doctor is now sending me to get a MRI.He gave me a surgical boot to wear till the MRI comes back. He seems to be wanting to know why I have inflamation in the top of my foot. I think it is from the manipulation of my foot by the therapist. I hope the MRI shows what is going on.

I am a podiatrist. I question why your doctor is sending you for a mri for a hammertoe. If I were you, I believe I would get a second opinion. This is not the medical standard of care for your condition.

I have had an MRI on my foot and the doctor says it is not conclusive. I could have arthritis in my foot because I do have OA in other places. My foot hurts a little less on top than before. I have spent weeks going to this podiatrist, therapy,wearing a surgial shoe,taking extra vioxx for 5 days not to mention all the money the insurance company has paid (minus my co-pays) to be in the same position when I started.My hammer toe hurts when I walk a lot. This doctor has not shown me anything and I guess I will have to give up.

Oh, Patti.....
The people who have answered you are correct!
Physical therapy for a hammer toe??? A year ago I had 2 bunions, a hammer toe and mid-foot stuff done. A few weeks ago, the same thing on the other foot!!! A rigid hammer toe can be horribly painful. While I was waiting for surgery I had a little cushion that went under the toe, and that helped, but only for a short while. Deeper foot-bed shoes....yes I tried all these, but the surgeon that I have said ONLY surgery would correct all these problems. I don't want to make you cringe....but it is awesome.... I still have the 'pin' in my hammertoe, and it will come out on Monday along with the stitches and then another hard cast.
With all I have learned about my own feet, I can't imagine an MRI for a hammertoe. Did this doctor (?) take an X-ray??? Find someone else......take your pain into your own hands... er...or feet!!!!
Let us know what happens.....
OH....BTW the surgery I had last year....a great success!!!!!

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Judy

Patty Ann....

What has been happening with your hammertoe?
Have you seen another doctor? Would like to know what else you might have found out about this condition.

Judy

I have not seen another doctor yet. I have to get another referal from my primary care physisian and explain what happened to him. my old dr. said my hammer toe is not that bad for surgery yet. It usual hurts if I walk to much.

Almost 2 years ago I had bunion surgery and hammertoe correction surgery on all 4 toes (which incl. having pins sticking out of each toe ugh!!). I had flexible hammertoes, but my podiatrist said the only way of getting rid of them is thru surgery. You should definitely go see a Podiatrist.

I am happy with the way the hammertoes came out, now my feet lay nice and straight.

Patty Ann,
Isn't that terrible when you have to go back to your primary, and your foot doc says 'it isn't bad enough yet'. I LOVE my HMO, BUT there are some that really work on getting doctors to put off surgery. That stinks!
If you get continued pain, and your hammer toe is rigid.....then it is time. Whine, cry, get P.O.'d - whatever it takes...just get someone's attention.
Please keep us posted....
Judy

PattyAnn,
I have read all the replies to your post. At least you got some replies! No one has replied to a post I made on this message board so I have been trying to figure things out on my own. Don't give up!!! Do find another Podiatrist! I don't think the one you have been going to has a clue.OA (even mild) should show up on an x-ray but some people with mild OA may have a significant amount of pain while others with advanced OA may have little pain. It varies with the person. As for your previous Dr. saying your hammertoe isn't bad enough for surgery yet - I say it is if you are having pain. I wonder if that Podiatrist has a hammertoe that he/she has been walking on! I have numerous foot problems but it wasn't until I developed a hammertoe that I decided to have surgery. A hammertoe is very uncomfortable - I can testify to that! It sounds like you will end up having surgery anyway to get the relief you are seeking so your insurance company is dishing out unecessary money on MRI's, physical therapy, etc. So much for keeping health care costs down! I wonder who was guiding your Podiatrist in making decisions about treatment for your hammertoe - he/she or the insurance company. Try to go to a really good Podiatrist. I had surgery on both feet last summer for bunions, hallux valgus deformities, and a hammertoe by an orthopedic surgeon. Things did not go well so I have an appointment with a Podiatrist in a few weeks. I finally realized that my feet were not improved from these surgeries - especially my right foot - I think it is worse than before surgery and it has been over nine months now! So please, please try to find a really good Podiatrist. I hope the one I am going to see will be able to get things straightened out with my feet. I feel better now after sounding off! I wish you the best of luck in getting some relief of your hammertoe problem. Take care and insist on some definitive treatment.
Brookej