Conservative treatment of Hallux Rigidus

Hello @upartist, this is an interesting question to pose. I tried doing a bit of digging on my own to see what I could find. I also have arthritis in my big right toe. So far, it has not been an issue for me, other than some discomfort when it gets really cold out (and it is REALLY cold out in MN right now).

This may be a question best suited for your medical provider, especially if you are having issues. If you don't mind sharing, are you experiencing discomfort or what you think are circulation issues in your legs?

Hi, I'm interested in this also. I have severe arthritis in my right big toe and I do experience discomfort and circulation in the leg with venous insufficiency. I did not think they were related, in fact, my ankle and foot doc did not comment on a relationship either.
Sure not relate to the cold. Today in south Florida, it's 79. (sorry).

Hello Justin. Thank you for your reply. I have not found information on this either. Yes I am experiencing quite a bit of discomfort in my right toe, foot, ankle, and calf. My foot is swelling out of my shoes and even my big winter boots. Just my right foot. My left side is fine. It comes and goes, and seems unrelated to the cold..... In fact the cold feels quite nice and reduces the swelling. I have to untie my boot to relieve the pain, or the foot feels like it's ready to pop. The toe has enlarged I realize, but this is bigger swelling. It feels like a tourniquet. Elevation and ice also help. I should have mentioned this at my last clinic visit a short time ago, but I was focused on some other stuff. Do you think I should bring this up with my Mayo provider?

I certainly would. Unfortunately, I cannot offer medical advice or a diagnosis because I am not a provider, but certainly do recommend mentioning your symptoms to your provider as it could be symptoms from something else. @upartist, if you feel comfortable, do you have arthritis or any other medical issues that could cause symptoms of swelling?

Hellos Justin. I plan to follow your suggestion to have the foot/leg looked at. Thank you. And no, I really do not have any other issue that could account for the focused swelling, that I am aware of. I wanted to avoid the toe surgery, which has been offered to me, because I have been able to remain quite active (walking, jogging, hiking, Snowshoeing, etc). I love being active, and wanted to go with orthotics in order for that life style to continue. I manage my other issues by being active. I am concerned that I may have waited to long on the surgery, and allowed the joint to grow to much.

Hello Justin, I wanted to close my question about my swelling foot, which I posed earlier. I did follow through with your suggestion to see my Doc. He felt the pulse, assessed the blood flow, and did a D-dimmer blood test. All were good. Unfortunately since that point, I have progressed to a pseudo-bowel obstruction with great pressure into the right groin. I didn't recognize it in its early stages, as it manifests a bit differently each time this happens. So I am being monitored and am working to stay out of the hospital right now. I know this routine quite well. Thank you for your recommendation, which was correct. Happy New Year!

Thank you for updating us @upartist. As a fellow person who lives with rare condition, a rare genetic bleeding disorder, I too often struggle with what I should contact my doctor about or what I want to just deal with on my own. As I get older, I am getting better about admitting that I need an expert voice, so I understand your situation, even if it is for a different cause.

@upartist, if you don't mind sharing, was there any cause found for your foot swelling?

Hi Justin. Wow, a bleeding disorder is scary and complex stuff. You likely need to be in the right place at the right times when things go wrongly. That must make things complicated when traveling, and when you get a basic illness the rest of us may take for granted. My smaller things tend to snowball into bigger issues, maybe similar to you in the fact that it happens but different in process for sure. My foot requires surgery, which I know, but my bowel responds poorly to surgery on any part of my body due to the recovery time, which I also know. The circulation of fluid appears to be finicky in that leg, secondary to previous abdominal surgeries. And I do get obstructed frequently. I have yet to dive into these more extensive questions, because I have been working with my Mayo group and my local Doc to reign in the dominoes of a bigger issue. I think I made a misstep in my food and exercise, but I am not sure yet. It's a fine line to walk. So to answer your question, the toe and the foot need to be assessed again down in Rochester, probably in May, after the snow is gone. If I get the surgery, then I will be able to stay mobile during recovery.

I am having similar symptoms to this and I thought it may be gout. Is Big Toe Arthritis the same thing you're referring to, gout? The symptoms match and the risk factors. Isn't gout a part of arthritis and what was your diagnosis? I haven't seen the doctor yet but have a regular scheduled appointment next week. I've been following a diet approach with yogurt, cherry juice and lots of water, no red meat. I've had the burning, pin prick stabbing pain with such tenderness I can't touch it. Using heat and ice. Last night my whole foot was swollen.

Gout results from the build-up of Uric acid and can result in symptoms similar to arthritis. Have you seen a doctor? Hope you feel better soon.