Claw Toes

People often blame claw toes on wearing shoes that squeeze your toes, such as high heels. However, claw toe also is often the result of nerve damage caused by diseases like diabetes or alcoholism, which cause weakening of the muscles in your foot. Claw toe means your toes “claw,” digging down into the soles of your shoes and creating painful calluses. Claw toes get worse without treatment and may become a permanent deformity over time.

Symptoms of claw toes include the toes bending up (extension) from the joints at the ball of the foot, the toes bend down (flexion) at the middle joints toward the sole of your shoe and the toes can bend down at the top joints, curling under the foot. These symtoms may lead to painful corns over the top of the toe or under the ball of the foot

Claw toe deformities are usually flexible at first and harden into place over time. If you have claw toe in early stages a splint or tape may be used to hold your toes in correct position. Shoes with soft, roomy toe boxes are advised and avoid tight shoes and high-heels. Orthotics also help. They can be used for weight re distribution throughout the foot hence decreasing pressure and pain at the ball of the foot, the orthotic will also decrease excessive reliance on the toes hence promoting a straighter toe.

If these treatments do not help, you may need corrective surgery to solve the problem.