Four common toe problems can affect your appearance, as they cause deformities in bones and joints.
Bunion
Abunionis a large bump on the side of the foot, just below the big toe.
The bump occurs in the joint where the big toe meets the foot bone.
Verywell / JR Bee
This deformity develops as pressure forces the top of the big toe to move toward the second toe.
Without treatment, the ongoing pressure continues to force the joint further out of position.
The bunion slowly enlarges, and inflammation and pain develop.
Symptoms include pain, shoe discomfort, and a callus or corn over the bump.
Bunionettes are usually treated without surgery.
Your healthcare provider will recommend shoes with a wider toe box and padding to relieve pain and discomfort.
Hammertoe
Ahammertoeis an abnormally shaped toe brought on by a bending deformity in the toe.
The problem comes up whenever the toe’s middle joint bends upward, making the toe resemble a hammer.
Though hammertoe most often affects the second toe, the third and fourth toes can also develop the deformity.
Hammertoes develop due to an imbalance in the muscles that bend and straighten the toe.
Your toe stays bent because those muscles become stronger or stiffer than the muscles that straighten it.
Tight shoes and high heels force the toes to bend.
The longer they stay bent, the faster a muscle imbalance develops.
Hammertoe develops as those muscles get stronger than those that straighten the toe.
At this stage, conservative treatments can’t straighten the toe.
Instead, you’ll needhammertoe surgery.
During surgery, your healthcare provider may lengthen or replace the tendon or repair the joint.
Only the middle joint is affected in hammertoe.
But if you have claw toe, the middle and third joints bend abnormally.
As a result, the toe takes on a rounded, claw-like shape.
In some cases, the tip of the toe may curl under the foot.
However, the top cause is nerve damage that weakens the muscles, allowing the joints to bend.
The primary sign is the appearance of your toe.
Other claw toe symptoms include:
Claw toe is treated with the same therapies as hammertoe.
Like hammertoe, claw toe is flexible at first.
Without treatment, the toe become rigid and stuck in its abnormal and painful position.
Then, you need surgery.
Though it may resemble a corn, the bump is usually due to a bone spur in the joint.
In many cases, hallux rigidus progresses toarthritis.
However, this is a progressive condition that may ultimately need surgery.
Surgical techniques for hallux rigidus include removing the bone spur, fusing the bones, and a joint replacement.
These conditions are often sparked by problems with your foot anatomy and footwear that puts pressure on your toes.
Toe problems cause significant pain and affect your balance and how you walk and run.
Most also progressively worsen without prompt treatment to restore a healthy, functioning foot.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Bunions.
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons: Foot Health Facts.Bunions.
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society: FootCareMD.Bunions.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Hammer Toe.
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons: Foot Health Facts.Hammertoe.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Claw toe.
American Stroke Association.Claw toe.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo.Hallux rigidus.
