My feet are naturally wide.my doctor said i shud wear wide spaced shoes but growing up sometimes i didnt really follow that advice due to the rarity of wide shoes for the sports ive played.Over the years my big toes have sort of pushed against the rest of my toes making them sort of crooked and messing with my balance ive noticed now that i work on balance a lot in my martial arts class.My question is...can a splint or anything be put on my big toe so that it can seperate from the other toes and give them air?Or maybe straighten up again in its natural position?

Dear Kurbz
You may be developing a bunion deformity. There are bunion sheilds out on the market and may also be found on this site. A bunion sheild or toe separator does not solve structural deformities. Many times they can be used to help decrease pain or are used as alternatives to performing surgical procedures.However, I suggest that you go and see your Podiatrist for an evaluation. He /she can evaluate ,diagnose and treatment your condition accordingly depending on your specific case.

Good-luck and thank-you for contacting foot.com,
SBarlizo, DPM, C Ped
foot.com expert

Sblazio,
I have posted here in the past regarding problems I have with my Right Great Toe.. The last posts were postt op after the toe fusion on March 21st.
I saw my orthopedic surgeon on Wed. The last x-rays showed the fusion was healing (if I didn't have the problem I am going to describe in the next sentence I could tell how the toe feels. He is trying to find a solution to the problem of irritation on the side and botton of my 2nd toe caused by the top part of the big toe leaning on 2nd toes. For about 6 weeks had a blister which really hurts, then it turns dark and hard, then peels and by the next week another blister has formed!! The dr has been trying to find a solution. He gave me a toe seperator made of fom which keeps the toes seperated but wiggles out by the motion fo moving my toes and walking. Last week he gavbe me a hammer toe pad which was very uncomfortable. It felt like walking on a big lump. I am so fustrated!! I got custom made orthotics in the beginning of Sept. Also after I returned from a cruise I had developed an ingrown nail on the toe that I had the surgery. My podiatrist cut the nail down the side and after that it was fine. I am worried about getting ingrown nails on any of my toes because it is hard enough to find wide enough shoes. I beleive I have a high instep and a narrow heel too. My feet are a mess LOL. The dr gave me spoecifications for shoes to be extra depth and have a rockee bottom. It seems that the shoe stores I called that were on the dr's recommended shoes stores, shoes aren't made with the rocer bottom. For an additional price they can be added,. The brace shop at Mass General did that and it was expensive, especially if I have to do it for every shoe I wear. Any suggestions that wouldn't break the $$$$$$?

Dear Andrea
Well, an alternative to using the toe spacer is a device called "accumold". It resembles silly putty which can be manipulated in such a way that will able to help prevent the two toes from rubbing against each other. A "latex sheild" mold may also be an alternative, it is also more durable than the accumold but also more expensive. Unfortunately the "rocker bottom" soles can be an expensive addition to your shoe gear. However there are shoes in the market that already come with a "rocker bottom " sole, go to stoes that have trained associates that have Pedorthists in their shop.

Good-luck and thank-you for contacting foot.com,
SBarlizo, DPM,C Ped
foot.com expert