Why You Shouldn’t Wait for Hammertoe Surgery
If you’re living with hammertoe, you know it may be quite uncomfortable. But did you know that surgery is a way to treat the condition? In this post, we’ll discuss why surgery may be recommended by your physician to address hammertoe, and we’ll also explore some of the risks and benefits of the procedure.
If you’re on the fence about surgery, read on!
Is hammertoe surgery worth it?
Hammertoes may worsen as time passes, which means you may begin to lose mobility, and your pain and discomfort may gradually escalate. While your hammertoe is still somewhat flexible, your doctor may recommend treating it with physical therapy, special footwear, or corrective devices. When your hammertoe becomes rigid, your doctor may determine that there isn't much that can be done to treat the pain, other than surgery.1
There are several things surgery may accomplish1, including a realignment of the foot, and the alleviation of pain. Because your foot gets realigned, it may no longer be necessary to treat the hammertoe pain symptoms – surgery is intended to address the underlying root cause. This may be performed as a minimally invasive procedure, so there may be very little scarring, and the soft tissue damage may heal quickly. However, recovery times should be discussed with your doctor because each patients’ outcomes are based on a variety of factors.2
Surgery may be scary
Some people postpone discussing surgery because they fear a long, painful recovery and unsightly scarring. In fact, any kind of surgery may be a nerve-wracking prospect for individuals.
Surgical innovations like the new TenoTac® device from Paragon 28® reduces the length of the incision, resulting in smaller scars when compared to traditional approaches. In terms of recovery, patients may immediately put weight on their corrected toe following surgery, however this will be determined by your surgeon.3
Hammertoe surgery recovery
In some cases, your surgeon may deem it necessary for the patient to wear a small medical shoe or boot for several weeks following surgery, as the foot becomes realigned. It's best not to be overly active during this healing period as a post-operative period of limiting “push off” is recommended3. However, in terms of being able to walk immediately afterward, you may be able to get around the house and the neighborhood without assistance, based on your surgeon’s advice. Once the foot has been realigned into proper position, you may resume your full slate of daily activities.
Is hammertoe surgery for you?
When you reach the point where your hammertoe becomes rigid, there will be very few non-surgical treatments available to you. Keep in mind that most of the non-surgical treatments do not address the root cause, which is a misaligned foot. Only surgery can do that. When your hammertoe reaches the point where it’s hard to find appropriate footwear, or begins causing excessive pain, surgery may be the right call for you. That's when it may be time to consider contacting a surgeon in your area about the TenoTac device.
