Do you have pain in your big toe joint?
The big toe joint is another common site of foot pain. Pain in this area can make you limp and have to compensate in other ways when you walk, which can then lead to pain in other areas of the body such as your outer foot and ankle, knees, hips, or lower back.
Sometimes wearing any of your shoes becomes quite uncomfortable, making walking for any length of time difficult. The pain may be sharp and sudden or a dull ache depending on the cause, and is usually worse as you lift your heel off the ground when walking.
It is usually treated with the right advise on footwear, Foot Mobilisation and Foot Orthotics or in some cases Orthopaedic footwear or shoe adaptations such as an addition of a rocker sole.
Foot Orthotics (shoe inserts, insoles) can help to reduce the load on the big toe joint by either reducing pressure or by supporting it in a better alignment, which should allow the joint to flex more easily as it naturally should when walking to allow you to move your body weight forwards over your foot without pain. However if the joint is more rigidly fixed, then a rocker sole would be a better option.
Big toe pain can be caused by or linked to the following conditions:
Gout
Hallux Limitus or Rigidus (A stiff toe joint)
Arthritis
Sesamoiditis
Trauma (from kicking something hard or dropping something on your toe)
Fracture
If you have big toe joint pain, make an appointment with us to find out more about how we can help.