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toe/foot problem

Original Post
Jacob Jones · · oklazona · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 0

All,

The joint where my big toe "connects" to my foot is becoming a problem. It has grown progressively worse over the past couple of months and is to the point where I have a hitch in my step and it hurts to put shoes on. No prior injuries or anything.

The joint is slightly swollen and sensitive to the touch. I appear to have full range of motion, but it does hurt to curl down my toe all the way.

Diagnosis? Remedy?

All I have done so far is quit wearing sandals, as the pressure of straps right on top of the joint seems to irritate it.

Monomaniac · · Morrison, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 17,295

See a podiatrist. Could be gout, sesamoiditis, fractured sesamoid, osteo arthritis, etc... Note that X-rays are often inconclusive when it comes to sesamoid issues, so you may need to lobby for an MRI.

Treatment will likely come down to custom orthotics combined with managing your use of the joint, but in some cases surgery, walking boot or other treatments may be recommended.

Matt Hoffmann · · Squamish · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 190

Second vote for going to see a podiatrist right away. Foot problems suck and are often ignored for too long resulting in serious problems instead of simple to fix problems.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

This is a possibilty, also:

footankleinstitute.com/hall…

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

I have sesamoiditis, which has slightly different symptoms. The podatrists I saw were able to rule out a fracture, but when it came to treatment I had more luck with a pedorthist (Bob Egeland who works out of Neptune in Boulder). At any rate don't wait to see someone like I did.

Jacob Jones · · oklazona · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 0

Roger.

Thanks for everyone's quick response.

I just booked an appointment with the podiatrist in my doctor's internal medicine group. See what he says and go from there.

Bapgar 1 · · Out of the Loop · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 90

I've dealt w/ a toe problem that sounds the same as what you've got. I've had a lot of different folks look at it over the years but have never come up w/ a conclusive diagnosis.

Much like Mono said, it may come down to managing the problem. I'm pretty sure that my toe issue stems from the fact that my feet are slightly different sizes and I've sized my climbing shoes to fit the smaller foot for years.
Soft tissue work (using a golf ball to massage the bottom of the foot) and joint manipulation have helped but really the biggest relief has come from sizing my climbing kicks AND approach shoes a half size larger.

Good luck w/ the problem, I hope you find a definitive answer/solution (if you do, it would be great if you post a follow up) because I still don't have an answer after 7yrs and the toe doesn't like doing the long summer days.

Sorden · · Estes Park, CO · Joined Sep 2003 · Points: 95

Arthritis in the big toe joint is quite common. You might look into cortisone injections; not always a permanent remedy but a trip to a podiatrist is probably warranted. Best of luck Jake.

Edit to add: doesn't sound like gout to me but I'm sure they'll test your uric acid levels to be safe.

lazar · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 0

Sounds serious,better take action before you can't walk or end up with a surgery.

Jacob Jones · · oklazona · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 0

UPDATE:

Saw the doc today. Quickly diagnosed my problem as arthritis. Podiatrist said he normally takes a very conservative approach but, in my case, wants to be really aggressive about it.

Bottom line is that 1) I caught it early and 2) It is only going to get worse.

So, I am going to have it "scoped" in July. Minor incision, they go in and clean up the joint. Should be back to climbing is 4-6 weeks. Should give me back some of what I lost. Going forward, I'll go easy on the tiny/aggressive shoes.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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