Our feet support the weight of our body, so problems can lead to foot pain and affect the way we walk, and can even cause knee, hip and back pain. Therefore, it is important to seek help immediately for your foot pain by a chiropodist or podiatrist.
This month, our inhouse Chiropodist and Podiatrist, Sarah Kerrane talks to us about the most common causes of big toe pain.
Top 3 Causes of Big Toe Pain
Common causes of pain in the big toe are bunions, turf toe and sesamoiditis.
Bunion
A bunion is a bony growth on the base of the big toe joint. It is usually caused by tight footwear, high heels, flat feet or fallen arches and they can also be inherited from parents/grandparents. Treatment involves:
– Wider footwear- this gives more space for the sore area so help relieve
– Orthotics or custom arches- these can lift up your arch and give support to the bunion
– Gel cushions to offload painful joint
– Night splint
– Toe exercises
– In some cases, surgical removal of the bony growth
Turf Toe
This is pain on the bottom of the big toe joint, where the ligaments of the big toe become sprained. This can occur due to overuse, stubbing the toe, bending the toe excessively, wearing soft shoes and playing on astro turf.
Treatment involves
– Rest
– Ice
– Compression bandage
– Elevate the foot
– Taping the toe to take pressure off the joint
Sesamoiditis
The sesamoids are two small pea-sized bones embedded in the tendon on the bottom of the big toe joint. Sesamoiditis is when the tendons surrounding these bones become injured or inflamed. It occurs from impact like running, jumping or ballet or from flat feet.
Treatment involves
– Rest
– Ice
– Padding/cushions to offload painful area
– Taping
– Wide low heeled shoes
– Orthotics