Closed toed shoes sometimes cause this bruise.
Winter shoe woes
Now that we are deep into the winter season, some folks might be experiencing some pains at their toes that rarely occur in warmer months. Flip flops or sandals can be worn into October these days, but when the cooler temperatures arrive, we need to cover our toes. For some people, that means pain.
If you have a hammertoe, wearing a closed-toe shoe can cause rubbing on the top of that toe. After a few weeks, a callus can develop and sometimes it hurts too. If left unattended, it can get worse or even infected. I see this every winter.
Another common toe pain that repeats during cool weather is the corn on the side of a toe, like the 4th or 5th toes. This usually happens because these toes want to splay outward a bit when walking, but the closed-toed shoes keep these toes squeezed together. These toes rub against each other and start to cause a painful callus. It’s not your imagination that this happened last year too.
Sometimes I see a patient with a bruised toenail caused by a closed toe shoe. Usually there is no history of injury or trauma. The only thing that changes is the shoe style. The bruising can be subtle or totally gross; sometimes the nail even gets loose. This process occurs when a person is walking their normal daily steps, but the tip of their big toe hits the inside of the shoe. Proper shoe sizing, shoe material decisions, and the shape or posture of the toe all play a part in addressing this problem.
If any of these scenarios sounds familiar, please think of calling Sohl Foot and Ankle at 267-699-3839. We would love to help anyone with these issues. All you have to do is call.