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How to Manage a Hallux Rigidus Flare-Up
Living with hallux rigidus is a challenge, especially during a painful flare. When the condition flares up, getting comfortable, walking, and even wearing shoes can be challenging.
Most people can manage pain through conservative measures like ice, medications, and shoe changes. But when the pain persists, you may need an examination, imaging studies, and professional treatment.
Dr. Mark Sharobeem provides fast and efficient care for foot problems like hallux rigidus at the Manhattan Podiatry Group. Dr. Sharobeem is a podiatrist who offers treatments like orthotics, injections, and physical therapy for a hallux rigidus flare.
What is hallux rigidus?
Hallux rigidus is a form of arthritis that affects the big toe joint. It specifically affects the metatarsophalangeal joint, where the foot and big toe join together.
The condition gets its name because it means stiff big toe, a prevalent symptom. Arthritis causes inflammation and pain in the joint, especially with pressure from ill-fitting shoes.
Hallux rigidus is a type of osteoarthritis that causes degeneration of the body's joints. It develops over time and, without treatment, leads to pain and immobility of the toe.
Signs of a flare-up
The symptoms of hallux rigidus often begin slowly and get worse over time. The critical sign of a problem is persistent stiffness in the big toe joint – but that's not the only sign of hallux rigidus.
Other symptoms can pop up, especially during a flare. Any of the following signs could signal a hallux rigidus flare-up:
- Pain deep in the big toe or on top of the joint
- Swelling around the big toe
- A callus or bump over the joint
- Decreased range of motion in the big toe
- Extreme stiffness and limited movement
Certain things exacerbate your symptoms, including shoes that are too tight around the big toe. Cold weather, standing too long, and moving a lot also make the condition worse. The earlier you seek treatment, the more likely you are to get long-term pain relief.
Home care for hallux rigidus
When dealing with a hallux rigidus flare, you want relief as soon as possible. The best way to get fast relief is to know how to treat pain in the comfort of your own home. Conservative measures can quickly and efficiently relieve your pain.
Dr. Sharobeem offers the following home care tips when you're dealing with a spike of pain in your big toe joint:
- Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories
- Use ice to ease inflammation
- Wear shoes with a roomy toe box
- Limit your toe from moving with toe pads
- Stretch the toe joint
- Soak the foot in warm water
If the above measures don't work as well as you hope, Dr. Sharobeem can prescribe oral corticosteroids to eliminate inflammation and pain quickly. These treatments are enough to relieve mild to moderate forms of hallux rigidus.
Other treatments to ease a flare
More severe cases of hallux rigidus may require more than home care for long-term pain relief. When discomfort cannot be controlled, Dr. Sharobeem offers various treatments to ease pain and restore function in the toe.
He can offer custom orthotics to improve your walking and relieve pressure on the big toe joint. These, along with shoe changes, can significantly reduce hallux rigidus symptoms.
Dr. Sharobeem also offers corticosteroid injections into the joint to reduce inflammation and give you long-term relief. He often suggests physical therapy and other treatments to build strength and flexibility around the joint.
Surgery is sometimes the only way to get pain relief from hallux rigidus, especially when it's severe. Dr. Sharobeem discusses several surgical options based on the joint's condition and your specific needs.
Call the Manhattan Podiatry Group today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sharobeem for hallux rigidus treatments, or visit our website. We have New York City offices in Gramercy Park and Staten Island and one in Newark, New Jersey.