An Ultimate Guide to Hammer Toes

Our feet are constantly being used and abused by us. No wonder then that there are a host of ailments that have a cure yet people aren’t even aware of the existence of most of the diseases that ail our feet.

We are seasoned podiatrists in Baltimore with a lot of years under the belt. And today we’d like to help you in understanding yet another ailment of the feet – hammer toes.

As cool as the name sounds, the disease is to be taken seriously. If hammertoes are allowed to get worse then they may end up making you immobile! Thankfully, we have been providing hammer toes treatment in Baltimore for a number of years now. We know the different forms and stages of the disease very well.

Below is a guide to the disease.

1) Types – There are two types of hammertoes – rigid and flexible. Flexible hammertoes allow movement at the joints and can be treated by podiatrists in Baltimore while in the development stage. Rigid hammertoes, on the other hand, are more advanced than their counterparts. To remove them, you will have to undergo hammer toes surgery in Baltimore.

2) Symptoms – A host of symptoms can alert you in time for hammer toes treatment in Baltimore. These symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, corns on the surface of the joint and swelling. You may also feel pain in the balls of your feet and the base of the toe.

3) Treatment options – Depending on the severity of your case, the podiatrists will recommend treatments for you. Usually, padding is used to minimize pain in the affected area. Medications are prescribed in the form of anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections. And finally, you will have to seek out hammertoes surgery in Baltimore if your case cannot be treated.

If you find any of the above mentioned symptoms or signs in your toes, then kindly contact us at the earliest for swift, effective and lasting treatment.

Ingrown Toenail - Know Its Causes & Symptoms

Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of nails dig into the surrounding skin. It can develop due to the improper cutting of nails, wearing tight fitted shoes, toe injury, or playing football. It can cause pain and swelling requiring immediate ingrown toenail treatment.

An ingrown toenail develops when the corner of the nail tends to grow inside the skin. It is also called as onychocryptosis or unguis incarnatus. Usually, the big toe is more prone to this medical issue. It is a painful condition and individuals should trim their toenails straight across so that it does not curve and dig into the skin. Doctors advise patients to go for ingrown toenail treatment in Baltimore without any delay as it can lead to complications, especially if the patient has diabetes. The area surrounding the ingrown nail can get infected and can even develop into an abscess requiring ingrown toenail surgery in Baltimore. However, there is nothing to panic, as numerous clinics are dealing with podiatric surgery. Continue reading to understand the causes and symptoms of ingrown toenails.

Causes of Ingrown Toenails

Both men and women have equal chances of developing ingrown toenails. Detailed below are the common causes of this condition.

• Many people have a habit of cutting toenails too short. This improper trimming of nails can lead to ingrowing. Experts suggest cutting nails straight across without making any angle to prevent them from curving inside the skin.
• Some people are born with irregular or curved toenails. If you have a family history of this condition, then your chances of developing ingrown nails increase significantly. While there is nothing you can do about this condition, it is better to opt for ingrown toenail surgery in Baltimore before it leads to any complication.
• Wearing tight-fitting shoes or high heels can also create pressure on toenails by keeping them compressed for a long duration. It leads to curvature of toenails. Tight socks or stocking can even develop the same condition.
• Suffering an injury while playing football or dropping a heavy object on feet can also cause curvature of toenails.
• Certain athletic activities like playing soccer, kickboxing, or performing ballet may involve repetitive kicking or subjecting nails to high pressure. It can lead to ingrown nails if continued uninterrupted for a prolonged duration.

Symptoms of Ingrown Toenails

Symptoms of ingrown toenails worsen with time. However, timely ingrown toenail treatment in Baltimore often prevents the development of complications. Have a look at the common signs and symptoms associated with this medical condition.

• Inflammation, tenderness, or hardening of skin where the nail has curved inside
• Patient experience pain when they apply pressure on the affected area.
• In some cases, fluid may build up surrounding the ingrown toe.
• Skin can get infected due to germs build-up on an ingrown toenail. Here the area becomes red, develops pus, and blood can ooze out from the site.

This was all about the causes and symptoms of ingrown toenails. If medication does not cure this condition, it is beneficial to go for podiatric surgery in Baltimore to get it treated.

Podiatry Associates in Baltimore is the best place for the treatment of ingrown toenails. The podiatric physician first examines the condition and suggests a suitable treatment for quick healing.