Understanding Hammer Toe Hammer toe affects your second, fourth, and third toes which causes them to bend at the middle joint, making them appear like a hammer. Now, there may be several reasons you may be suffering from this condition. Genetics, arthritis, improper footwear, and injury are some of the reasons that cause this condition. The common symptoms of this condition are pain, swelling, corn, calluses, and difficulty in moving your toe. Conservative treatments for hammer toe Once a hammertoe has formed it cannot be resolved without surgery. There are home remedies/ non surgical options that can help reduce how fast the toe deforms and help with pain. Home remedies may include proper footwear, practicing toe exercises, splinting or padding. Comfortable shoes with wider toe boxes will help alleviate the pain to your toes while reducing. Avoid narrow shoes that squeeze your toes together or high heels. Perform simple-to-follow toe exercises to stretch and strengthen your toes will relieve the pressure on the affected area. Soak your feet in warm water imbued with Epsom salt. Doing so will help relax the muscles, reduce the pain, and ease the discomfort you experience when you have a hammer toe. Conservative treatments that can help with pain may include: Orthotic devices Medicines Physical therapy Steroid injections Hammer Toe Surgery To fully resolve a hammertoe the deformity would need to be surgically corrected. A consultation and X-ray will determine which surgery would be most appropriate. Th