Hammer toe surgery

Fragster

I have a hammer toe. It does not cause me discomfort, but I would like to have it fixed for cosmetic reasons. I tend to avoid baring my feet because of it, which means that I avoid places like swimming pools and the beach etc.

I have wanted to have it attended to for a number of years (I've had it about 8 years: I'm 28) but thought it was something I should just get over.

Does anyone have any idea about how to get this remedied? Should I just go to a general cosmetic surgeon or are there people who specialise in this kind of thing???

Any advice would be appreciated!

Lil' Smiler

Well I'd presume you should go to your Dr for referral to an Orthopaedic Surgeon / Podiatrist.

If you need a name of a Podiatrist and you're in Dublin I'll PM you mine, he's great and also a surgeon.

That's crazy that it doesn't hurt you! I have bunions which kill my foot.. along with other sporting injuries.. but anyway! I just find anything that happens to my foot very sore. I'd kind of think even though it's not harming you, you would be best to have it looked at and assessed to see whether or not it should be corrected. I know the surgeon i went to wouldn't chop my bunion off and repair a tendon I had wrecked because I'd be in more severe pain than I already was.. but your situation is different.

You do know what they do in surgery? For your average case they straighten the joint and then it may involve cutting or transferring tendons, or maybe fusing the joints of the toe together. Which to me sounds ouch!!Maybe if yours isn't causing you a problem it may take some manipulation or padding of the foot to knock it back into place.

I'm not sure entirely, and can't be seen to be giving medical advice but I've studied it in college in my Neurology and then I do manipulations and stuff but I would get it looked at just to be on the safe side, it's rare that it spreads into all toes but still!!

How did you get it diagnosed before actually?

Fragster

Thanks for the info! I suppose you're right.... Go to a doctor. I tend to avoid them though, and think they'd think I was being ridiculous complaining about something that doesn't even hurt me.

It was self-diagnosis. I did some research on the Internet, and have seen some sites on the procedure involved.

I would be wary of making any decision based on the Internet alone though and would liked to have a recommendation as to who I should see about it. It would be great if you could PM me the name of the person treating you.

Thanks a million!

By the way, are you self-conscious about the way it looks or do you just get on with your life normally?? Do you avoid certain things which would bare the "offending" digits?!

And is a consultation with a podiatrist expensive??

Lil' Smiler

No probs, I'll PM you that now.

With regards to my feet, yes I am quite embarrassed by them. The bunions are hereditary, my nana, aunt and mum all have them and now my 10 year old cousin is starting to develop them too.

When I'm in college (I study Physical Therapy) and we do practical work with the feet I am mortified when everyone points out what is wrong with them. My right foot especially is the worst because I suffered a bad injury on it (nearly rupturing a large tendon) for 7 years and with the bunion it got not better. My feet bruise very easily and somehow on nights out I manage to always get some..rather bigger lady than me stand right in between my 3rd and 4th toes, happened a month ago and I still have it, probably fractured but ah well 3rd time it's happened! Then because for years i was in agony wearing some shoes, I'd constantly get cuts and blisters and have LOADS of scars! And I have crappy arches and my big toe joint is wrecked!

i'll never be a foot model ha ha! But then again from having clients coming in to me for treatment i have seen feet that are a lot worse...and that smell!!

Yeah I'd get it checked out anyway! Sure the Dr would be glad of your €50 for doing nothing!! hehehe!! I know mine always seems to be!