Daughter's bent toes......

[ChristmasConcert]

Hi all. Hoping someone here can advise.....

DD (11) has slightly wonky toes. Her big toes bend towards the others, and the second toes have started bending up and over the big toes. Her fourth toes are long and slightly kinked in the middle, bending towards the first few toes.

I first noticed this several years ago and took her to the GP, who said 'she'll be fine, put a bit of lolly stick or something between the big toe and the next if you're worried". Anyway, we tried that and it was impossible to make anything that was comfy, or didn't fall out. I then bought various moulds etc off Amazon and we tried all sorts, but none that she didn;t find really awkward and difficult to run or do PE in etc. Also they are all adult sized.

I went back to the GP a year or so later (after they made us have a telephone appointment - I mean, really?? ) and asked for a referral to a paediatric podiatrist - which a chiropracter friend told me I should ask for. We eventually got an appointment in the nearest large city, and went, only to be told it was fine, and she could do some stretching exercises on them if she wanted. I asked if we could have a bespoke mould to try and train the first two toes on her worst foot, and he casually said OK and a nurse spent two minutes making a rubber blob which lasted about three weeks before it fell apart. They don't want to see her again.

We're doing the exercises but I can't believe three minutes a day is going to help - and googling the problem shows a lot of people in America saying the only treatment is an operation later on! That may be the case, but I really feel it's not getting enough attention now while she's still growing, and am at my wits end. She's going to have awful bunions and problems with getting shoes to fit in later life, if things don't improve!

I wanted to pay for a private consultation, but all the local podiatrists appear to do 'beauty' treatments and corns etc rather than anything corrective. I found a great site through googling but then saw it covers the north west only! I also found one in Surrey, and I expect there are some in London, but I'm near Bath! I guess I'll travel if I have to, but does anyone know how I can track down a nearby specialist - or what their job title would be? Thanks.

if you want to go private maybe an orthopaedic consultant is the way to go?
does she wear shoes all the time?
have you been to a physio?

I had a couple of bent toes growing up but now in my 30s they cause no issues and arent noticable. I had a reception teacher who was obsessed with me not being able to walk along a balance beam and we were advised similarly that major surgery to straighten the tendons was the only option and would involve a large scar. I did have pedro boots for a while so perhaps you could look into these privately? Also physio to help with gait has been really helpful.

Wait is this not normal? I've got toes exactly like that and never realised they were odd. What kind of issues could be caused by this?

maybe tight shoes cause it. orthopedic shoes can help.

wide shoes as well, like H.

I have toes like that. It's genetic. Please just leave them alone unless the doctor says they will cause problems.
Things between the toes are very painful. Don't try.

You can't "retrain" toes. That's why nobody reputable tries to do so. At best, it is ineffective, at worst will make things even worse.

Accept she has unusual toes and once she has stopped growing if they cause her problem with pain (not simply from a cosmetic point of view) ask for a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon

Thank you all - I do normally trust the NHS totally but I just felt worried that we'd all regret it later in life. But many of you seem to feel it's fine,. so you're putting my mind at rest, thank you.

She has no issues with walking or balance, and has normal width feet. She's fitted for school shoes regularly by Clarks. No discomfort or anything, I just wondered if they would rub and cause pain as she grows.

This picture is from the internet, but is pretty much what she looks like, minus the bunions.

Hmmm. She's so young still though. Do you really want to go around poking and fussing over toes thay aren't causing her problems gait wise and similar. There's no need for it, surely?

Anyway, I have a couple of curled toes, the smallest two. Look to barefoot brands - vivobarefoot, lems, freet... can't remember the others, sorry.

CorrectToes helped me with a curled toe. By a couple of degrees but I saw a difference, nonetheless. Most be worn inside a barefoot shoe with a wide, splayed toe box. I wore mine with crocs in the summer everytime I was out and about. Inside the house under socks, and sometimes in bed. Premise being they act like braces for the feet and encourages the correct alignment of the toes, the tendons, all of it. We're 'supposed' to have a ducks foot shape. Exactly as a baby is born and commonly seen by peoples who rarely wear structured footwear, or footwear at all. Anyway, I couldn't be bothered to wear them anymore.

I only wear vivos now though. Couldn't be without them.
I've bookmarked a surgeon who specializes in keyhole surgery when correcting curled toes. I think all his foot and ankle related surgery is keyhole. Far more benefits over the traditional method of correction and those ghastly pins in each toe! I've reasoned that if my feet get worse over the years and I'm suffering aches and pains as a result of my toes not sitting straight then I'd be happy to see him to get things properly sorted. As it stands now, it's an unnecessary waste of time and money.

That picture from the net looks like the foot of a ballet dancer who's spent years in pointe shoes. If your dd's look like that then you are right to be concerned about it.

Is there more than one gp at your practice? If so, I'd take her to see another one and get a second opinion.

Thanks @Tanselletootall - I don't want to do anything more than necessary/anything that will affect her, if we don't have to, so I will definitely look into those.

She thinks the exercises are helping (although she would say that as she obviously doesn't want any major treatment) - @egontoste I took a photo and actually she's not as bad as that pic (although I did say minus the bunions...), this is her worst foot.

I don't like to go back to the GP practice when the expert consultant has said it's no problem, it's a tricky one.....

What dies her foot look like when she’s standing and there’s pressure on it?

What sort of shoes does she wear? How much time does she spend walking around the house in bare feet?

What types of shoes does she wear? If totally flat / ballet shoes / trainers or high heels / pointed toes then throw them out. She needs shoes rounded at the toe and with a one or two inch all around heel like a loafer.

agree GrumpyHoonMain.

I can recommend an excellent Podiatrist who specialises in children if you still want to get it checked. They are in Berkshire - not too long along the M4. Pm if so.

DH has very similar foot. In his case it’s a bunion - his mother has them and doctor said they’re hereditary. Dr wouldn’t operate as said unless he’s having difficulty walking or running or in general then don’t risk it.

Thanks for all the replies - lots of questions:

sheshoots When her foot is flat the second toe doesn't overlap, although it and the big toe bend towards each other and touch, with a gap between them at the base.

egontoste, grumpy she wears robust buckle shoes to school with a thick sole and a heel of about an inch, plus a nice round toe. At home she goes barefoot (in socks) indoors. Outside she wears crocs in summer and wellies in winter, plus trainers sometimes all year round. We tried flip flops indoors for a bit to separate her toes but she prefers nothing. Never flats or ballet style but are trainers not good? Should she not go barefoot?

Lucking thank you, I'll talk to DH once we've seen all the views on here.

Diamond my understanding is that toes like this can cause bunions, rather than vice versa? I'm sure the wonky toes are probably hereditary somewhere along the line, but I just wondered if corrective treatment now could avoid the pain of bunions and/or anything else later on. But it's seeming increasingly unlikely.......

I would focus on how the foot functions when flat and in action as that is the most important aspect. It doesn’t cause her pain. Her footwear is comfortable. Our feet do tend to flatten as we age due to weight and gravity so you might find this ceases to be a problem later on.

Thanks @sheshootssheimplores - perhaps I'm over-thinking this as others on here also say their toes are the same. She is donor egg conceived so it may be a perfectly normal thing for her genetic heritage on that side - just not something I'm familiar with (nor is DH).

I think I will trust the NHS and the feedback here and try to stop worrying - thanks everyone for your advice.