What is Hallux Rigidus?

Hallux rigidus is a common arthritic condition of the big toe joint. It can cause hallux toe pain, pain when walking and when exercising. There are various hallux rigidus stages, but generally, the condition is classified based upon severity and destruction at the joint.

What causes Hallux Rigidus?

Hallux rigidus is so common because there are many different causes. Actually, many of these are the same as hallux valgus causes, or causes associated with developing a bunion. Some of these include a hypermobile first ray (which is also associated with both mild and serious hallux valgus), metatarsal elevatus, where the metatarsal bone is elevated with respect to the ground, arthritis, trauma, neuromuscular disease, and the list goes on.

What are some Hallux Rigidus Symptoms?

Based upon the hallux rigidus stage you are in, there may or may not be symptoms. For instance, in the final stage of hallux rigidus, there usually is no associated pain because at that point, the joint between your hallux or great toe, and the first metatarsal has fused. However, in lesser stages of Hallux Rigidus, a patient tends to have decreased range of motion in the big toe joint, gradual pain at the big toe joint with walking, and a boney prominence at the top of the big toe joint. Luckily, there are a number of hallux rigidus treatments employed today, and the physicians at Assabet Family Podiatry are your local experts!

Hallux Rigidus Treatments

There are many treatment options for hallux rigidus that include both surgical and non-surgical methods. Unfortunately, there are not many hallux rigidus exercises that are commonly employed, but generally, putting your big toe through range of motion if not painful can be helpful. The physicians and surgeons at Assabet Family Podiatry are also able to fit patients with different shoes that can help with walking, and administer steroid injections if the area is painful.

Sometimes patients fail conservative treatment measures and are forced to consider surgical options. Hallux rigidus surgery can be performed in different ways. For instance, the surgeon can decide to perform a bunionectomy, clean up the joint by removing bone spurs, fusing the joint, and even doing a joint replacement. The possibilities are endless, and The physicians and surgeons at Assabet Family Podiatry have received comprehensive and extensive training in all of these modalities.

If you find you are suffering from this potentially painful issue, please book an appointment with our surgeon today!