Are you suffering from big toe pain in your joint? You may need to see a foot doctor near you.
The joint where the foot meets the big toe—the 1st metatarsal-phalangeal joint (MTP)—is a common site of pain for athletes and non-athletes alike. This condition is called hallux rigidus, and pain can range from a mild nuisance to disabling.
Here what you should know if you are experiencing big toe pain that is interfering with the activities you enjoy:
1. Big Toe Pain in the Joint Is Common
Pain in this area of the big toe is common in both adults and teens, but is most common as a person enters middle age. Like other joints – such as the knee, hip, and shoulder – the cartilage in the MTP joint of the big toe can start to wear out or break down as a result of poor alignment, past injuries (even a bad toe stub can irritate the cartilage), and age. Similar to other joints, over time, these factors may lead to inflammation, arthritis, or bone spurs in the joint that result in pain.
2. You May Not Require Surgery for Your Big Toe Pain
Something as simple as putting a stiff carbon plate insole inside your shoe can offer relief by limiting the motion of the MTP joint. There are also anti-inflammatory creams, injections, and other therapies that can offer significant relief. An orthopedic foot specialist will be able to determine if there is a non-surgical option that is right for you.
3. Sometimes Big Toe Pain May Require Surgery
Two of the most common surgical techniques for hallux rigidus are procedures to remove bone spurs in the toe joint (cheilectomy) or to fuse the toe joint. There are also joint implants and synthetic cartilage options that can be done to relieve pain while maintaining the joint’s range of motion.
4. A Foot Doctor Near You May Be Able to Help
If you are doing less of something you enjoy due to big toe pain, it’s time to call a foot and ankle doctor. There are many effective treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, and an orthopedic foot specialist will help you to determine which treatment is right for you.
5. Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Specialists Are Your Best Option
It’s best to see an orthopedic specialist who has completed a foot and ankle fellowship. A fellowship is an extra year of training after orthopedic surgery residency that concentrates solely on the foot and ankle. A fellowship-trained foot and ankle specialist will be the most up-to-date on the latest treatment options and usually only sees patients with foot, ankle or toe conditions.
Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics in Nashville and Franklin, TN has two orthopedic surgeons that are fellowship-trained foot and ankle specialists: Jeffrey D. Willers, MD and Brian Thomson, MD.
You can request an appointment online to see one of our foot and ankle specialists in Nashville, TN or Franklin, TN.
For readers outside of Middle Tennessee, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a foot doctor near you for examination if your big toe pain continues.
Author: AMWN Dev
Related Articles
The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is a vital stabilizer in the elbow, particularly for athletes who perform repetitive overhead motions. Injuries to this ligament are [...]
We tend to assume that the more physically fit you are, the more protected your body is from health problems. While there is certainly a [...]
According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, 1 in 3500 people injure their ACL every year. This makes it the most commonly [...]
Over 544,000 hip replacement surgeries were performed across the United States, according to the American College of Rheumatology? We see numbers like that at Elite [...]
Common Workplace Orthopedic Injuries: Prevention & Treatment Workplace injuries are a major cause of orthopedic issues, affecting workers across industries—from office employees to construction workers. [...]
Spinal Fusion Surgery: A Comprehensive Guide by Elite Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Back pain can be debilitating, affecting everything from daily activities to athletic performance. [...]
Understanding PCL Tears: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options If you're experiencing knee pain and searching for an orthopedic doctor near me, understanding the nature of [...]
Did you know that each year, around 100,000 to 200,000 people in the United States tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), according to data from [...]
Are you finding it hard to sleep due to ankle pain at night? If you haven't sprained your ankle recently, you may wonder why your [...]
A CDC report from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey found that 36.5% of adults had lower limb pain. This includes the hip, knee, and foot. [...]
