Keeping the toes happy is essential! The toes play a vital role in the function of the foot and your ability to balance and walk properly. Quickly addressing toe problems in our Newtown, PA office can avoid permanent damage. If you have a toe problem, immediate treatment can also prevent the need for complex treatment to restore health.
Newtown Foot and Ankle Specialists is home to a team of dedicated and highly trained doctors and podiatrists. We offer experienced care for your podiatry concerns, foot problems, and more.
Toe Problems in Newtown, PA
Our office treats many types of toe problems. Common toe problems our podiatrists treat can include:
- Sprained toe
- Broken toe
- Bunions
- Ingrown toenail
- Claw toe
- Digital deformity
- Hallux Limitus (stiff big toe joint)
- Hallux Rigidis (rigid big toe)
- Hallux Varus (common bunion surgery complication)
- Hammertoes
- Intoeing
- Overlapping or underlapping toes
- Subungual Exostosis (bone spur under toenail)
- Turf toe
There is a wide range of causes for toe pain and deformities, from genetics to trauma. Wearing tight shoes, walking or standing for long periods, or an injury to the toe can worsen these problems.
Preventing Toe Problems
Sometimes, you can prevent toe problems. You can follow these tips to help prevent the development of toe pain:
- Wear clean socks
- Change socks frequently
- Do not walk barefoot in public spaces (including locker rooms)
- Wear supportive, appropriately sized shoes
- Get regular exercise, but don’t overdo it
- Manage your diabetes
- Rest your feet after long walks or runs
How Can I Treat Toe Pain at Home?
Some problems may only require at-home treatment. However, if these problems worsen, you need to visit a podiatrist. These treatments can address immediate toe pain:
- Ice: Icing a freshly injured toe can reduce swelling and pain. Use a cold compress on your toe for fifteen minutes multiple times during the first 48 hours you experience toe pain. Do not ice your toe for over twenty minutes at a time.
- Anti-inflammatory medication: Inflammation is a common symptom of many toe problems. NSAIDs like ibuprofen can relieve pain and inflammation at the same time.
- Warm salt water soaks: Soaking your toes in warm salt water can help address pain from an ingrown toenail. Epsom salts also help reduce the chance of infection. If you already have an infected toe, the salts can relieve the pressure and swelling from your toe problem.
Do not wear high heels, flip flops, or ill-fitting shoes if you have toe pain, as it can worsen your symptoms. Contact our office if you do not relieve your toe pain or fully address your toe problem at home. We will recommend further treatment tailored to your specific needs.
Treating Toe Problems in Newtown, PA
Immediate professional care can stabilize your situation, restore your health, and address your mobility issues. Our podiatrists and foot doctors will work with you on an individual basis. When you visit our office, we will evaluate the cause of your problem and recommend treatment options. We may recommend prescription medication, physical therapy, laser treatments, orthotics, or lifestyle changes to help address your toe problems.
Our office also treats children with structural deformities of their toes. Problems we treat include in-toeing (pigeon-toed) to overlapping and under-lapping toes. Early care with an experienced podiatrist can offer your child the best chance to resolve developmental problems. Our doctors help provide treatment with the best possible outcome.
We welcome pediatric patients. Our office can provide supportive, personalized care for both parent and child when addressing challenging ankle, foot, and toe problems.
Toe Problems FAQs
Learn more about toe problems and how we treat them in our office with answers to these commonly asked questions:
What are common toe problems?
Many people have issues with their toes throughout their lives. These include hammertoes, bunions, calluses, mallet toes, and blisters. Patients may also experience toenail problems. Toenail problems include ingrown toenails and toenail funguses. Patients can receive treatment or physical therapy for any of these issues.
How long do you need to wear a toe straightener?
Patients usually wear a toe straightener for approximately eighteen hours daily. Podiatrists do not recommend wearing it 24 hours per day. Wearing a toe straightener for too long can strain your foot. Your muscles need time to rest.
When patients begin wearing a toe straightener, they typically start with time intervals of 30 minutes. Then, they progressively work up to wearing it for more extended periods.
How can podiatrists treat toe pain?
A podiatrist may recommend one or more treatments depending on the cause of your toe pain. Physical therapy, padding, and orthotics are common treatments for painful toes. A podiatrist can also stabilize a broken or injured toe or perform treatment to cut an ingrown toenail.
What are curly toes?
Curly toes are a reasonably common toe problem that typically presents itself at birth. Most parents notice it as their child begins to walk because they will begin to talk with a different gait. Curly toes occur when your toes curl underneath your feet because the tendons in your feet are tight. They are most common on the third or fourth toe.
How long does a sore toe last?
A sore toe lasts a few days to a week and can take three to six weeks to heal fully. Patients may tape their sore toe to a neighboring toe for support and protection while healing.
Can salt water help treat an ingrown toenail?
Yes, soaking your foot in salt water can help treat an ingrown toenail. Salt water reduces swelling, cleans the area, and prevents infection.
To use salt water, dissolve a tablespoon of salt in warm water and soak your foot for 15-20 minutes a few times a day. This can help relieve pain and soften the skin around the nail, which may make it easier for the nail to grow out properly. However, if the ingrown toenail doesn’t get better or worsens, contact our office for treatment.
What is Morton’s toe?
Morton’s toe is a condition that occurs when a patient’s second toe appears longer than their big toe. This is very common. However, it may make patients susceptible to foot calluses or pain. If you have this condition and experience frequent pain, please visit a podiatrist.
What is a hammertoe?
Hammertoes are a foot condition where one or more of your toes bend abnormally at the middle joint. This causes the toe to curl downward instead of pointing forward.
Hammertoes can be caused by wearing tight shoes, high heels, or shoes that don’t fit properly. It can also develop from injury, arthritis, or having a high foot arch.
People with hammertoes may feel pain when walking or wearing shoes. They may develop corns or calluses where the toes rub against the inside of the shoe. Treatment options include wearing comfortable shoes, doing toe exercises, or, in severe cases, surgery to straighten the toe.
Address Toe Problems in Newtown, PA
Do you have an infected toe? Are you suffering from toe pain due to an injury? Call Newtown Foot and Ankle Specialists at 215.234.3772. You can also schedule a dental appointment with us online.
If you have any questions about the cause or treatment for your toe probe, we can help. Our doctors will find the proper treatment for your toe problem.