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Toe Condition Treatments


 

Toe Condition Treatment Services in Homer Glen & New Lenox IL

The toes are a very complex part of the body that are responsible for helping you to support the weight of your body, balance, and walk. Experiencing problems with your toes can be very painful and make many everyday activities much more difficult than they need to be.

In the short term, toe conditions can hinder your ability to walk, make wearing shoes uncomfortable, and affect your balance and motion. In the long term, many toe issues can contribute to much more serious problems, such as arthritis and severe lack of flexibility.

If you’re experiencing a problem with one or more of your toes, then the Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic can help. Our trained podiatric physicians in Southwest Chicago provide an extensive range of treatment options to treat the many common toe problems that can occur in children and adults.

For all types of toe problem, acting quickly and seeking expert treatment from a skilled podiatric physician is incredibly important. Contact us today to discuss your toe problems so we can find the best treatment for you.

Common Toe Conditions

The complex nature of toes and the pressure that they’re under every day to support the body means that there are many toe problems that can occur in adults and children. Here are some of the common problems that we can treat at the Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic in Homer Glen and New Lenox:

Claw Toe

To have claw toe it means that your toes are clawing back into the soles of your shoes, which creates painful calluses, and if not treated, can cause long term problems. The common symptoms of claw toe also include toes bent upwards or downwards, and corns.

Common treatments include:

  • Splint and tape
  • Toe exercises
  • Shoe modification
  • Orthotics
  • Surgery

Gout

This is a type of arthritis where crystals form around joints. The condition affects the joint of the big toe and can occur very suddenly, leaving the big toe feeling hot and tender; it can also cause swelling. Symptoms of gout include pain in the joint of the big toe, inflammation, and a reduction in motion.

Common treatments include:

  • Ice
  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Rest
  • Medication to lower uric acid levels

Hallux Valgus

Also known as bunions, hallux valgus is a big toe deformity where the big toe is tilted towards the toes next to it and a lump forms on the metatarsal bone. Hallux valgus can cause pain and the lump can blister and become infected. If the condition isn’t treated, then it could cause arthritis in the toe joint.

Common treatments include:

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Ice
  • Tape and splints
  • Orthotics
  • Surgery

Hallux Limitus

This condition (hallux limitus), actually means “limited big toe joint”. It is known from a decreased range of motion and pain at the big toe joint. If not treated, severe bone spurring can begin to occur. An abnormal foot anatomy is commonly the cause of hallux limitus.

Common treatments:

– Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)

– Cortisone injections

– Orthotics

Hallux Rigidus

When you have worn down the cartilage at the base of the toe, and there’s bone on bone, a condition called Hallux Rigidus can occur. Hallux Rigidus means “stiff big toe joint”. At this stage the toe doesn’t move much at all.

Common treatments include:

  • Osteotomy Surgery
  • Cheilectomy Surgery
  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Rest
  • Orthotics

Hallux Varus

Hallux Varus is a condition where the big toe severely bends away from the toe next to it. This condition, which is a common complication that can arise after bunion surgery, can reduce the range of motion in the toe, cause pain in the toe, and reduce walking and standing ability.

Common treatments include:

  • Shoe modification
  • Splint and tape
  • Toe exercises
  • Surgery

Hammertoe

This is a deformity where the toe or toes bend down instead of pointing straight forward. The common cause of hammertoe is an imbalance between the ligament and muscle of the toe joint.

Common treatments include:

  • Hammertoe pads
  • Ice
  • Cortisone injections
  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Splints
  • Toe exercises
  • Surgery

In-toeing and out-toeing

This is when the feet are pointing in too much (in-toeing), or out too much (out-toeing). This is common in children and usually go away as they learn to walk. However, in difficult cases, more intense treatments may be needed, such as special orthotic shoes.

Common treatments include:

  • Shoe modification
  • Casts or braces
  • Surgery

Overlapping or Underlapping Toes

When one toe lays on top of the next toe, this is called an overlapping toe. Cases of toes that are overlapping are characterized by one toe lying on top of an adjacent toe, while underlapping is often the result of one toe being forced underneath the next toe. Underlapping commonly occurs on the fourth and fifth toes, whilst the fifth toe is very prone to overlapping.

Common treatments include:

  • Tendon release and/or soft tissue release
  • Surgical bone removal
  • Shoe modification and forefoot supports

Sesamoiditis

Sesamoiditis is a condition where the sesamoid bones (small bones located within the tendons that connect to the big toe), become irritated, which can lead to inflammation of the tendons surrounding the bones. This condition has many symptoms, including pain, bruising, difficultly moving the big toe, and swelling.

Common treatments include:

  • Rest
  • Orthotics
  • Ice
  • Anti-inflammation medication
  • Taping

Subungual Exostosis

This means that you have a bone spur under the toenail. Normally this happens from some type of accident, and can put pressure on the toe nail, which causes pain. Often, this condition is treated through surgery.

Common treatments include:

  • Surgical excision
  • Shoe modification

Turf Toe

If your big toe gets hyperextended, you can get turf toe. Turf toe is often immediately very painful and can cause arthritis to develop over time due to a reduction in flexibility of the toe. Cases of turf toe are particularly common in athletes.

Treatment include: 

- Rest

– Ice

– Compression

– Possibly sports equipment adjustments 

– NSAIDs (anti inflammatory drugs)

Mallet Toes

This is a deformity of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint in the foot, which has abnormal flexibility (it is either fixed or flexible). Mallet toe can cause the toe to become red and swollen, in some cases the condition can also lead to the development of ulcers and calluses.

Common treatments include:

  • Shoe modification
  • Toe exercises
  • Orthotics
  • Callus treatment
  • Surgery

If you’re experiencing any of these common toe issues, then please contact the Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic in Southwest Chicago as soon as possible for professional treatment.

Why Is It Important to Get Toe Conditions Treated?

Toe problems are very common; there’s a high likelihood that an individual will develop at least one toe problem in their life. Toe problems can range in severity, from mildly painful to highly disabling, but they almost always negatively impact a person’s ability to live a normal, pain-free life.

Like many other conditions, toe conditions often don’t get better over time without professional intervention and the correct treatment. Due to this, it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after suspecting a toe issue or discovering a toe problem. Early intervention can help to prevent much more serious issues from occurring, which could aggravate existing problems or cause more serious medical problems to arise.

Sometimes, all that’s required to treat toe problems is advice on the correct footwear, or medication and exercise. In more serious cases, surgery may be required to treat an issue. Discovering which type of treatment you require to treat your toe problems will help you to get back to enjoying an active lifestyle, free of problems that affect your balance, ability to walk, and range of motion.

For advice, guidance, and expert treatment for all forms of toe problem, contact the Homer Glen and New Lenox Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic today.

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