Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
O
Overwhelmed23 Asked April 7, 2024

Best type of doctor for hammertoe?

I already have a new problem to tackle and haven't finished the last one yet (I'm trying to figure out a dental issue)! So here goes: Today I learned my MIL has a foot problem that I think is probably hammertoe or maybe mallet toe (thanks to some google searches and photos online). Two of her toes are curving under, and one seems to have no toenail anymore, and the other only a partial toenail. She already just barely gets around with a walker, and now she is having even more pain and trouble walking. Do I take her to a podiatrist, an orthopedist who specializes in feet, or her gp?


 


As an aside, just days before telling us of this problem, she was offered to see the podiatrist who comes to her facility every few months. We didn't know he was coming, they told her, and she refused. She told us all he'd do is cut toenails, he couldn't handle this. It would've been so nice if she' at least let him look and gotten feedback, and since she's never gone to see him once, she really has no idea what range of services he can offer. She does think a podiatrist could handle this problem, just not the ones who come to her assisted living home, and she also seems to think they'll do this by cutting the end of the toe off. Sigh. So now we have to figure out a way to get her to yet another appointment, and she already has two coming up days apart. When she could've seen the podiatrist who came on-site last week. Double sigh.

Overwhelmed23 Apr 19, 2024
Just an update, for any who are curious. I took MIL to the podiatrist yesterday (the toes were no longer bothering her by then). He can't offer anything other than suggesting she soak her feet in a tub of warm water with epsom salts when it hurts. He said normally he would recommend surgery, but due to her poor blood flow (her feet and legs are always swollen), he said it's too risky and there's nothing to be done.

As to the foot soaking, I don't know if the staff at her AL facility would help with that or not, but it would require her asking, and she refuses to ask for help. Never did before dementia, either, you just had to guess what she wanted and if you didn't she got mad. So that's not gonna happen. If she tells us next time she's having pain, we'll tell her to ask for one of her "as needed" pain pills - but since she has to ask, she probably won't ask. I've tried asking the nurse or med techs to administer an as-needed med for her, and they make it pretty hard - they just tell me to tell her to ask for it, and I'm like that's the problem, she won't ask. Can you please do it with me asking? They have a couple of times, but it's always a struggle.
97yroldmom Apr 19, 2024
Overwhelmed, I’m sorry I didn’t see your response to me about the podiatrist who visits the ALF.
I’m glad you had someone check her feet.
Please call for home health for your MIL. I hate to be a broken record but that could make both your MIL and your life easier. Call her primary, let him/her know what the podiatrist recommended and the other issues MIL has. She doesn’t sound like she can advocate for herself.
The home health can keep an eye on her feet as well as her overall health.

Now that you know that MIL is not a candidate for surgery, perhaps you can get her seen by the onsite podiatrist for regular foot care.

We all know each person needs an advocate when they are in care. If that is you for your MIL know that the home health will help you if you can get them coming in to check on MIL care. This will enable her to stay in an ALF longer rather than having to advance to higher care.
Wishing you both the best.
97yroldmom Apr 9, 2024
Ask the doctor to order her home health for the follow-up care in the ALF. They will do wound care if needed. They can also send in therapy to help her with her mobility.

Additionally ask about Telemed appointments for follow up. Much easier.

The podiatrist that comes to my aunts facility told me he visits NHs in the afternoons and does surgeries in the mornings. I would get the name of the one who visits her facility and make a few phone calls.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Overwhelmed23 Apr 9, 2024
Thank you! As to checking into the podiatrist who comes to her facility, would this do any good if he is not the one who does a surgery? We already have her scheduled for next week to taker her to the podiatrist she had before going to the facility. We don't know, of course, if a surgery will be needed, but there will be followup visits, I'm sure.

I don't know if the one who goes to her facility even goes to patients rooms; we were told he sets up shop in the hair salon and you have to go to him. And she absolutely refuses to go to him, sadly. If he just popped into her room and said he wanted to look at her feet, I know she'd let him, but that's not how it works. And in this case, I'm not sure he'd do the followup visits on someone else's surgery.

ADVERTISEMENT


Overwhelmed23 Apr 9, 2024
Thanks, everyone, I have scheduled a podiatrist.

Geaton777 Apr 8, 2024
My Mom had a painful hammertoe. It had a corn or sore at the tip where it touched the ground and no matter what we did to treat it, the corn/sore returned. Even putting a cushion insert wasn't enough. It's a simple enough procedure: the podiatrist goes in and snips a ligament. Cosmetically, it looks a little funny but the hammertoe pain is gone. This is not a procedure they do in a facility, this is an outpatient day "surgery" and may or may not be covered by Medicare. My Mom was in her late 80's or early 90s when she had it done. She's now 94 and hasn't complained about it any more.
Overwhelmed23 Apr 9, 2024
What was the aftercare like? My MIL lives in Assisted Living, and they will help with only a very little bit of applying a cream/changing a bandage for a short while. Also, was your mom able to walk around on her own after the surgery? My MIL already barely gets around with a walker, so I'm wondering how that will be after the surgery if she had it. If I know there's a chance she may not be able to get around on her own for a while, I can discuss that with the doctor if he recommends the surgery.
JoAnn29 Apr 8, 2024
Podiatrist.

Anxietynacy Apr 7, 2024
That sucks, I feel your pain, somethings like doctors appointment come all at the same time. Feast or famin, they say.

I'm sure it would of been helpful if the foot doctor in her facility looked at it. My mom would of done the same thing.

Id say a podiatrist. Good luck
Overwhelmed23 Apr 9, 2024
Thanks, I went ahead and scheduled the podiatrist. It really is frustrating that she won't see people in the facility who could help her. She even complains about using their hair salon, too! But on that point we stand firm, if she wants a haircut, use the on-site salon.

Now we are stuck where she has three appointments next week, and I'm a bit scared my knees will give out before we can get through it (severe knee issues) - I have to carefully space out doing things that will tax my knees. But I wanted to get her in as soon as possible to have her feet looked at, as she's in a lot of pain and I'm afraid will be more likely to fall (she already falls often). So I took the sooner podiatrist appointment rather than waiting another week, fingers crossed it works out!
BarbBrooklyn Apr 7, 2024
My mom, with dementia, had all kinds of misconceptions about what various doctors can and can't do. My ex took HIS mom, with sudden onset behavior symptoms to see her doctor; she initially refused to going, saying, "I'm not sick".

You can't let the person with dementia drive the bus.

MACinCT Apr 7, 2024
Get her to a podiatrist

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter