Pain in the great toe joint in the foot is often as a result of arthritis. This often is termed hallux rigidus. There are numerous problems from the great toe or hallux joint that can hurt, with gout symptoms being an additional well-known condition. In some cases the hallux joint is totally inflexible and other times it's not rigid, it simply has a lower range of flexion that is less than the normal. The most common cause of a hallux rigidus will be osteoarthritis in the big toe joint. The osteoarthritis comes because of many years of deterioration of in the big toe joint from a alignment problem with just how the hallux joint isn't going to move how it really should. Another reason behind the arthritis can be a one off (or possibly a few) injury to the great toe joint which does certain destruction of the big toe joint and result in the arthritis to occur. Usually, the pain sensation from this begins as a slight ache, from time to time with an occasional sharp pain. Over time, this gradually becomes worse and can turn out to be fairly painful. It will likewise modify the way that you walk.
The treatments of hallux rigidus are relatively reduced since there is no solution for arthritis. The first method is treatments for the pain and this could include injections in to the joint and the taking of pain medications. This is going to probably work efficiently for the short term however it is not likely to cure the condition. Shoes that are a lot more rigid or have a rocker beneath the shoe are very helpful at reducing the action in that big toe or hallux joint, but still provide for near to normal walking. There is also a carbon fibre plate which might be placed in the shoes to make them rigid in order that whenever walking that big toe joint does not move. Foot orthotics can also be sometimes used and may frequently have a rocker or other design function which ends beneath the big toe joint also to help reduce motion at the joint. Additionally, there are other kinds of padding which you can use as well as taping with the great toe or hallux joint that can also be employed to limit movement in the joint.
Surgical treatment is another option that should be thought about with regard to treating hallux rigidus. There are a few unique techniques that the surgeon could take. One of these is to merely stiffen the hallux joint. This will certainly stop the pain and definitely will affect the way you walk about to some degree. It is still an excellent choice. A different surgical technique is usually to get rid of some bone from across the hallux joint to allow the joint to move a bit more readily. The next surgical approach is to upgrade the big toe joint with an artificial one or place a spacer inside the big toe joint so the osteo-arthritis about the joint surfaces is removed and the two joints surfaces go forward on that spacer. The choice of which of these solutions is a thing that the operating doctor is going to have to determine based on how much destruction has been done to the joint and just how good the bone across the hallux joint is and exactly how deep the osteoarthritis should go.