What percentage of people dealing with PN get hammertoes?

Posted by llm54 @llm54, May 26 9:22am

I’m wondering about the percentage of those dealing with peripheral Neuropathy that end up with hammertoes? Have you found non surgical ways to help? If you have had surgery, was once enough to correct them?
HI’ve dealt with PN for nearly fifteen years now. After a number of years I began to notice that my toes weren’t right. After asking my neurologist said that some patients see this. I had wished he had mentioned this when I was first diagnosed as I had to add several pairs of flat shoes to stay safe. I tried every suggestion people had for managing them but with minimal success. As the worsened I found that my toes were consistently rubbing on the top of my shoe (very painful). Over a period of two years I was able to have the middle three toes on each foot corrected. Approximately six months later I saw my big toes begin to hammer. I’ve not ever heard of anyone having this happen. In fact, nothing comes up on Google if you look for it. As at this time I’ve been able to have two additional surgeries for them but am beginning to have some issues with the original three on each foot. I’m not panicking just yet, however, I’ve renewed my friendship with moleskin. I’m going to hold off doing anything for now but need to watch them as I have an autoimmune disease which adversely affects my small blood vessels-my circulation. Doctors are often cautious about doing surgery on older people which I also have going against me.
As I initially said, I’d be grateful for any advice that someone might have. Thanks!

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joyceelaine | @joyceelaine | May 29 9:49pm

In reply to @centre "I’ve gone to the Brooks Ghost sneakers for shoe-wearing. Runners wear them for the support and..." + (show)

Brooks are great. Hoka is also a good shoe recommended by my podiatrist. I think they’re kind of big and ugly looking (but I also wear a size 11) but they’re very popular with runners and hospital workers because they have a very wide and roomy toe box. On another note, I suffered from PN from diabetes for years, was taking Tramadol for the pain/burning. I was falling and using a cane for awhile, then I started taking Lyrica. I felt like it saved my life, it really worked good, I stopped the Tramadol and cane. I was on it for maybe 6 years. If my prescription lapsed, it only took about 5 days for all my symptoms to come back. Then I got got breast cancer and took letrozole for 5 years, which gave me osteoporosis. The DEXA technician told me Lyrica was hard on bones and also statins, which I was also taking. I immediately stopped the Lyrica and went to a naturopath to find out what I could do for my PN. He had me start on a complete B complex and later I added additional B12. It’s been almost 3 years since I stopped the Lyrica and my symptoms of PN have NEVER returned. It’s hard to believe. I still have PN, it just doesn’t hurt. B vitamins help with nerve function. Don’t know if everyone can fine relief with this easy “cure” but it’s worth a shot.

crossette | @crossette | Jun 2 8:14am

In reply to @joyceelaine "Brooks are great. Hoka is also a good shoe recommended by my podiatrist. I think they’re..." + (show)

After living with neuropathy for 16 years I noticed a few years ago that I had developed hammer toes. I never even knew what that was until a doctor told me. I guess no one knows why that happens but it does. Something about lack of feeling in the foot I guess. Mine are not rubbing on the tops of my shoes so not a huge problem yet. I will look into the Yoga Toes product mentioned by someone in this thread.

Debbie | @dbeshears1 | Jun 3 6:02am

Hi - My orthopedic surgeon told me he did many hammertoe surgeries and that actually a low number of his patients had PN, that hammertoes develop on many types of people. Now that doesn't mean that a lot of people with PN don't develop hammertoes; it may just mean that with the battles we face, they are lower priority and we don't seek out a surgical solution. I have PN and developed hammertoes in one foot, but my Neurologist, PCP, and my Ortho surgeon can't say what it was caused by: PN? years of running being hard on my toes? Age? They just couldn't say. But recently (age 59) I decided to get 4 toes on my left foot surgically repaired (the big toe was excluded as it was OK). I wanted to be as proactive as possible in keeping my gait and foot health, so I might not have more obstacles in my way with the life challenges of PN on my activity level that I already face. It is too soon to tell if I made the right choice, but so far I am pleased with the results and the surgical recovery was very tolerable.

charlotte1952 | @charlotte1952 | Jun 4 9:16am

I have been reading about hammer toes here. I have feet, leg and hand neuropathy induced from chemotherapy 13 years ago. This last year I had ovarian cancer. More chemo with it. I recently have read about hammer toes. I knew something funky was going on with my toes. Lo and behold I have self diagnosed this condition! (I did google the condition.) I had no idea that neuropathy could cause hammer toes! Now I will go to orthopedic dr to see what can be done. Thank you for all this information.