Minor Surgical Procedure for Hammer Toe (pain, surgery, muscle, treated)

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I didn't know what I had was a hammer toe. For a few years it has felt like I was occasionally hitting the toenail on the ground and I just assumed I hadn't cut my nails recently. Then I got a sharp pain like the muscle on that toe was trying to contract. When I looked at it carefully, I saw that the toe was bent to the side and the edge of the nail was touching the ground. I guess I had never looked carefully before.

So I went to my podiatrist and he explained that was called a hammer toe. I had heard him say I had some of them before but I didn't remember what he had originally told me it was. While it can be treated conservatively, both of use felt I was past that point. He recommended a minor in-office procedure, which I had done about 10 days ago. First he sprayed a numbing liquid and then I felt nothing. I got an anesthetic shot and then he inserted a small blade on the bottom of the toe and severed the tendon that causes the toe to contract. No stitches, just a thorough bandaging of it. I had to keep my foot dry for a week. I had no pain at all. Now my toe cannot bend under. If I can figure out how to upload a photo from my Droid, I will post a photo of me giving you "the toe." LOL.

He explained that people with high arches (me) are prone to developing these deformities as they age. I have a few other, not so bad, that I will eventually have to take care of. He had explained that if I let it go too long, I would need same-day surgery to break and fuse the joint. This was so much easier! Hope this info helps anyone having the same problem.