Sunday, January 16, 2011 Devilsheep asks

Q: My toes have grown deformed because of socks?

Please note:: I think this question is in the wrong category... it wont let me change it :/

I'm 13 years old and the last 2 toes on my feet have grown sort of sidewaysish. The reason for this is when I was younger [between the age of 4 and 9] I hardly used to take my socks off. I used to wear them during the night and stuff I only took them off on a morning when I was changing them. I think those 2 toes might be paralysed due to this or something too cos I can't spread them out or anything. But that isn't the major issue, It's just that it looks a bit weird. Does anyone know how to slowly make them straight again without going to the doctors or getting surgery?

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Answers (2)
V, Health Guide
1/16/11 7:41am

Hello there!

 

I am not a doctor, so I cannot say for sure why your toes are growing sideways. I can say that I used to wear my socks all the time when I was young...many, many moons ago.....and my toes did not end up deformed. Wearing shoes that are too tight can cause bunions and things like that, but I have never heard of socks causing a problem.  I guess if the socks were wrapped tightly around your feet for a long, long time, they could cause issues. 

 

You are young and still growing.  That is why it is important that you see a doctor.  There may be a simple solution, and you need to find out what is going on.

 

Do your feet hurt or swell?  Please, please, please, make a doctors appointment. Don't be afraid.  You need your feet to get you around the rest of your life, so this is important.

 

Take care, and let us know how you are doing, and what the doctor says, okay?

 

Peace to you,

V

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1/24/11 5:22pm

Hey sweetie,

 

Socks have too much give and stretch to cause deformity.  However they will move a bit in relation to how you walk especially if you walk on the outside of your foot. 

 

You are still very young and have yet to finish growing.  We all go through a period of development in our early teens when we become aware of what our bodies look like and try to compare them to what is "normal."  Being different is indeed normal.  Some of us have funky looking toes, others have knobby knees or a funny nose.  We are all different in shape, like snowflakes.  Being different is what makes you unique. 

 

But to answer whether or not you need surgery, I think you will have to go see an orthopedic doctor to do xrays to determine if you have anytype of damage.  But for the most part, if your toes don't hurt to walk on them, then you are good to go.  But you may want to ask your family what their toes look like.  The issue may be inherited and nothing at all to worry about.

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By Devilsheep— Last Modified: 01/24/11, First Published: 01/16/11