Fractured sesamoid bone in foot, never quite healed

In 2015, before I ever started climbing, I fractured the sesamoid bone in my foot and had to wear a boot. It never fully healed/the doctor tells me it has some necrosis. I get quite a bit of pain around the inner arch of my foot near the ball of my big toe, and especially pain within and around the ball of my big toe (pain comes and goes, no pain at all right now).

My guess is that the climbing shoes don’t help the situation. I boulder most of all, so I wear Miura Laces and Solutions, and they have to be tight enough to toe and edge. But with a bunion and bad stabilizer bone, the narrow squeezing of the front of my foot does hurt.

Has anyone else had necrosis of the sesamoid bone or a fractured sesamoid bone? Any tips for foot tendon care after taking the shoes off/post climbing sesh for better foot health?

Hi Alaina, 

Am replying via my husband's account.  I have chronic sesamoiditis and fractured my right medial sesamoid about 10 years ago.  After 12 weeks in boot, I was fitted for custom orthotics which I have worn every day since.  Consistent use of orthotics has pretty much taken care of the problem - if I go even a few hours without them, I start to experience pain.  I have made my own inserts for all of my climbing shoes that offload pressure at first metatarsal joint/ball of foot and could not climb otherwise.  Can share details if you want to DM me.  Also, the stiffer the climbing shoe the better!

Todd, my doctor actually said that at one point too (that there’s no way to know whether I was born with a bipartite sesamoid bone or the break wasn’t healing). Did an injury trigger yours though? For me, I stepped weird and felt it happen. No one mentioned gout to me but it’s interesting you mention dehydration because that is another issue I’ve had with low sodium/low minerals. 

Thanks for the info and I’m glad your pain is better! What climbing shoes do you tolerate?

Friend had a recent similar issue. Orthotics and stuff slipper (so you aren’t barefoot) have helped her when not climbing