How to cure an overlapping toes on toddler?

Hi L.!

Okay, first I am not by any means an expert on foot problems, but, at about 18 months my aunt was putting my shoe on (a sandal) and my toe was left in a strap all day- no one noticed it until bedtime. In all that time, walking as an 18 month old does, I was limping, and everyone I came in contact with thought it was normal. No amount of discomfort is normal and her condition sounds a lot like what my mother said I went through. It turned out that after seeing a pediatrician, having my tendons checked, and so on my toe had broken and because iit took literally months for my mother to insist on xrays my toe healed in an overlapped position. Now, at 35 my foot is disfigured (overlapped and dented toes) and there is always some degree of pain in that foot. I never thought to have surgery because I've lived with it so long.

If you haven't already done so, please take her to get xrays or an MRI and see a specialist. Insist on it. It shouldn't keep her up at night.

Hi L.,
I have a lot of feet problems and just recently had a tendon repaired. I was born pigeon toed (walking inward) and it never corrected with the corrective shoes my parents bought me. Maybe therapy would work with the tendon. Did they do an MRI on her foot? That is how we finally found my torn tendon. I walked on my bad ankle since May and just got it repaired in March. But please be aware, Podiatrists are not doctors. They are able to do surgery, however they are not doctors. If you want a doctor to go to for something like that I suggest an orthopedic specialist, that is who did my surgery. I am in Vegas, so my doctor's name would be of no use to you. Good luck.

Hi there... I know nothing about the medical world since I am not a doctor, but I would suggest going to a orthopedic surgen/doctor. They take care of all kinds of problems, and take on children. I had to take my 8month old son to one when he was born because he had loose hips (all better now). But I was say an orthopedist would be your best bet, and don't wait for the doctors to call you, some doctors are not sensitive enough to others needs. I would make a call to your insurance company and find an orhtopedic doctor near you. I am so sorry that your daughter is in pain. It must be hard and frustrating to see her in pain. Good luck.....C.

If you have a PPO - you don't need a referral to take your daughter to a Podiatrist! You can select anyone you like - my teenager has been seeing one for 6 years now and I love him. She was a dancer and and ice skater and he takes really wonderful care of her feet. You cannot compare a podiatrist to a pediatrician when it comes to feet.

If you have an HMO and need the referral to afford the visit - then simply all your HMO - tell them you have the referral, but would like a list of podiatrists that are approved because the one you were referred to doesn't have any appointments available. They should be able to give you at least 3-5 you can call to see if you can get her in ASAP.

My son has the same problem, but he is 5 now and only complains of pain in certain shoes - I have learned which styles of shoes don't aggravate the toe. A podiatrist can also give you recommendations on good styles of shoes.

My daughter, who is now 16 months, was born with an overlapping toe. I asked her ped about it when she was just a little baby, and she said that it would probably be fine - that she might have a hard time finding and wearing really cute shoes as an adult, but that most children with overlapping toes are really just fine (people have all sorts or weird stuff that go on with their feet). The alternative of fixing it can be a little gruesome.

I had a friend that was born with an overlapping toe, which turned into a hammer toe as she got older. At 19, in her sophmore year of college, the walking on it and not doing anything about it for all those years had injured the toe badly. The only way to fix it at that point was to do it surgically: she had her toe broken, then set, and a pin was placed through her toe to keep it straight as it healed - the pin poked out of the front of her toe, and she had to wear a walking cast for 6 months as the toe healed. it seemed like they took such huge measures for a toe, but if you let it go and it becomes painful, breaking and putting a pin in it is the final solution.

Because she is still so young, I would suggest this: don't take her to any pediatrician. You need to take her to a specialist: a children's orthopedist (I dont think they make children's podiatrists). Most pediatricians, while excellent for general health issues, do not have the expertise to know what to do in a situation like your daughters - and their solutiion to this is telling you that your child is really NOT in pain, and by just brushing you off. Call your insurance provider, and have them give you the numbers of orthopedists in your area that your insurance covers.

Dear L.,

Don't just wait for the foot specialist to call you, you call them and tell them that your 4 year old daughter is in pain, and you are very concerned about it. Call back in the next few days, if they don't return your call or come back with an answer. Ask them who else to take her to. Also, call the local Health Department and/or go into their office and take her with you, maybe they will help you or give you an idea of where to go. Keep a list of the times and places you have talked to a doctor or tried to get an appointment. That will help you get their attention. Don't wait around. She is old enough now to get something done to correct this, keep telling them that she is in pain.

Good Luck, C. N.

Taking her to a podiatrist would be the best thing to do. My son has this exact same thing, only it does not hurt him. It's called hammer toe. He had it since birth and I took him to the podiatrist when he was about 2 and he said that as long as it's not bothering him, there's nothing really to do. But when they start complaining about it, that's when surgical intervention needs to be done. Don't bother with the regular doctor, go to a doctor who specializes in feet (podiatrist). Good luck and let me know how it all turns out.

My daughter's middle toe was overlapping until she started REALLY walking...Like 3/12 years old. It concerned me at first too, but it slowly has resolved itself, without any intervention. You didn't mention how old yours is, but if she's less than 3, I wouldn't worry about it. Just don't force her feet into any shoes that make it hurt, stick with something like velcro sandals.

Hi L.,
My 7 year old has the same thing (or so it sounds) He was born with it. His doctor told us it was a tendon that is too short. It does not bother my son physically but lately he has been voicing concern about wanting to get it fixed. When he was younger the doctor had us wrap it with tape to the toe next to it to told it stright. He said that might help. Unfortunatly, what child is going to leave tape on their toes?! The next step for us is a very simple surgery where they cut the tendon in the toe and that fixes it I guess. We are looking into having it done after my other son has his tonsils out next week. Hope that helps.

E.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1296419/pdf/j...
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