Mallet Toe: Confusing and Painful
You have probably heard of hammertoe, possibly claw toe, but you may wonder, what on earth is mallet toe? A mallet toe occurs when your toe curls instead of lying flat. Unlike the other two conditions, it affects the second toe most often because it is the longest out of all five of your toes. Hammertoes bend in the second but on the joint, and claw toes curl on the first joint. Mallet toe involves two areas of your body (the FDL and the DIPJ); mallet toe is caused by the muscle being too tight and your toe bending upward. As a result, you will see your toe become flexible or completely rigid.
How to Treat the Condition
Exfoliation--this needs to be done gently, and it is used to smooth the calluses. Calluses cause deformities, and they are irritating when you have a mallet toe. Eventually, that could cause mobility issues, infections, and pain, along with inflammation and swelling.
Pads---using toe pads on calluses and corns help this condition as well as it helps with pain and pressure.
Steroids--the podiatrist might suggest injections to help with the inflammation. It helps with swelling, inflammation, and pain.
Orthotics--because these are specialized shoes for your feet, they will take the pressure off your affected toe. In addition, you need shoes with extra room where your toes reside.
Stretching--stretch your toes will help as well because it keeps your toes mobile.
In particular, people with diabetes need to be careful to keep feet dry and injury-free and ensure that they keep their feet completely clean and their toenails trimmed. You should also never remove calluses or corns by yourself when diabetic. A podiatrist needs to do it for you. That is the safest option for people with diabetes. Doing it yourself can cause infection, sepsis, and possible fatality.
For help with a mallet toe James C. Ricketti, DPM of Hamilton Square, NJ, is a board-certified podiatrist that can heal any foot and ankle injuries, diseases, and deformities. Dr. Ricketti and his staff will have your feet looking great and feeling even better. Call 609-587-1674 to get help today.