Treat Them Early: Experts

Hammer toes, curly toes, crossover toes and bunions are not only painful, they can be a red flag for other health problems, a new report warns.

According to a review published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, deformities of the lesser toes, which includes all the toes except for the big toe, should be treated as early as possible by an orthopedic surgeon to avoid other complications.

"Toe pain can limit a person's quality of life," said the review's lead author, Dr. Khalid Shirzad, an orthopedic surgeon at Northwest Orthopedic Specialists, P.S., in Spokane, Wash., in a news release. "When it hurts to walk, that person will start decreasing time spent on activities they enjoy. If the initial problem is not treated, it may lead to further issues such as skin infections, deformities, and muscular problems."

Most often, the review authors pointed out, deformities of the lesser toes are the result of shoes that don't fit, or hurt. Other causes of these conditions include: injury; inflammatory arthritis; neuromuscular and metabolic diseases, such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis; and genetics.

Although diabetes doesn't directly cause toe deformities, it can cause people to lose sensation in their feet, and as a result, they may not notice when they have a painful toe injury or deformity, Shirzad explained.

Source: everydayhealth

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