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Are you experiencing pain in the joint of your big toe? If so, you may be suffering from hallux limitus. When left untreated, your pain and symptoms may progress causing arthritis to develop in your joint. Treatment varies depending on your foot type, the severity of your deformity, activities that you may perform and your symptoms. Golfers tend to be affected by hallux limitus more often than others. Though it is not considered a rigorous sport, the physical act of repeatedly swinging a golf club can lead to the deterioration of the big toe joint. The movement and weight transfer occurring during the swing's follow through can cause pain in your big toe as well as other foot ailments. Prevention is vital when it comes to protecting your feet during your daily activities. What is Hallux Limitus? Hallux limitus is the loss of motion to the big toe joint. The normal range of upward motion for your big toe should be a motion of 50 to 90 degrees for normal function. With limited motion of your big toe, or hallux, your body will not propel forward. This results in the other joints of your body to compensate for the lack of motion which puts more strain on the rest of your foot. Over time, the decrease in motion of your hallux will lead to jamming of your joint and as it undergoes constant trauma the bones become stimulated and extra bone growth occurs over the top of the joint. Eventually the cartilage of your joint will become eroded, which can lead to arthritis and even less motion in your toe. Once your joint has developed arthritis, any motion will cause extreme pain in your big toe. What Causes Pain in the Hallux? Pain in your hallux can develop from overuse, or it may also be caused by genetics. When your big toe cannot bend upward, your toe joint begins to jam and cause pain. If you have hallux limitus, you may experience pain in your joint while walking and even after daily activities. Additionally, the shoes that you wear may also increase the pain. At times, visible signs may not be present, but the pain does signal that there is damage developing in your joint. It is important not to ignore this warning sign as it will develop into a more painful condition and possibly arthritis. Hallux limitus is a progressive deformity that makes early treatment necessary in order to help prevent further problems. Treatment for your Pain Hallux limitus can be treated both conservatively and surgically. Conservative options include:
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Cortisone injections
• Physical therapy
• Orthotic therapy
• Shoe modification
• Modification of activities When conservative measures have failed and the pain is great enough, then your podiatrist may recommend surgery. Not all hallux limitus cases are the same; therefore it must be carefully addressed to determine the exact cause of the condition. As always, seek professional advice about treatment from your Memphis podiatrist.
Dr. Nathan Lucas of Advanced Foot and Ankle Care of Memphis, LLC is a leading foot surgeon and podiatrist in Memphis. He is a board certified foot surgeon specializing in reconstructive, revisional and cosmetic foot and ankle surgery. Services include the treatment of bunions, heel pain, fungal toenails and plantar fasciitis in Memphis.
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