Hallux Rigidus

Early signs and symptoms of hallux rigidus:

• Pain and stiffness in the big toe
• Swelling and inflammation around the joint
• Chronic pain in the toes
• Overgrowth of side bones 
• Dull pain in the hips, knee, or lower back
• Limping
• Difficulty in some activities- running or squatting

Many people do not have any clear cause of hallux rigidus but it is most likely to appear due to excessive stress on the toes. Other common causes of hallux rigidus include:

• Overuse of joints by people who are prone to walking and standing for a longer duration
• Injury (spraining of joint)
• Osteoarthritis
• Genetics
• Inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid
• Gout

The range of motion of your toe joint can be tested by your healthcare practitioner to detect hallux rigidus. Your doctor may want to see how far you can bend your toes up and down. Any bone anomalies or the formation of a bone spur can be seen on an X-ray.

• Wear shoes that are appropriate and that give your toes plenty of room and help alleviate the pain
• Avoid wearing heels should be avoided
• Soak your foot in the bucket of water with salt and alternate between hot and cold water each for 30 seconds to 1 minute
• Place your toes in an elevated position, maybe on a cushion to prevent the big toe from aching
• Over-the-counter medications can help relieve the pain