Problems of the little or "lesser" toes
The little or "lesser" toes suffer from some of the most painful acquired problems of the foot. Often caused by jamming a square peg into a round hole. If you have any doubts about this, go ask Cinderella's sisters !!!!!!!
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A hammer toe is a deformity of the second, third or fourth toes. In this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint, so that it resembles a hammer. Initially, hammer toes are flexible and can
be corrected with simple measures but, if left untreated, they can become fixed and require surgery.
People with hammer toe may have corns or calluses on the top of the middle joint of the toe or on the tip of the toe. They may also feel pain in their toes or feet and have difficulty finding
comfortable shoes.
Clawtoes are are close cousins to hammertoes, in the sense that they are deformities of the smaller toes. Where as hammertoes involve a single toe clawtoes are usually seen as a deformity of all the smaller toes. They are due to an imbalance of the muscles of the toes and not necessarily due to shoe fit., but they can cause just as much pain particularly on the top of the toes due to rubbing.
Metatarsalgia is medical term for pain in the ball of the foot. It is often seen with thicknening of the skin. The causes are many. Some are just due to shoe fit other causes are more serious and require an examination to determine the cause and treatment.Orthotics often are helpful.
Morton's neuroma is not actually a tumor, but a thickening of the tissue that surrounds the digital nerve leading to the toes. It occurs as the nerve passes under the ligament
connecting the toe bones (metatarsals) in the forefoot.These neuroma most frequently develops between the third and fourth toes, usually in response to irritation, trauma or excessive pressure. The
incidence of Morton's neuroma is 8 to 10 times greater in women than in men.
Corns or calluses occur over boney prominences or in between the toes. Often due to fixed /stiff deformities of the affected toe. Often increased by ill fitting shoes.
*** Information provided by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society