Discomfort within the great toe or hallux joint in the feet are often as a result of osteoarthritis. This frequently is recognized as hallux rigidus. There are lots of problems from the great toe or hallux joint that might cause pain, with gout symptoms being one more widely known disorder. In some cases the hallux joint is totally inflexible as well as other times it is not rigid, it simply has a lower flexibility which is lower than the normal. The most prevalent cause of a hallux rigidus will be osteoarthritis in the great toe joint. The osteoarthritis can come from a lot of wear and tear on the big toe joint from a dysfunctional issue with how the big toe joint will not move how it should. And the second reason for the osteoarthritis can be a one off (or a few) injury to the joint that does certain injury to the great toe joint and trigger the osteo arthritis to start. Typically, the pain sensation from this begins as a modest discomfort, from time to time having an periodic sharp shooting pain. With time, the hallux rigidus steadily worsens and may turn out to be fairly painful. It will also modify the way in which people walk.

The treatment options of hallux rigidus are usually relatively reduced because there is no solution for arthritis. The very first method is control over the pain sensation which may involve injection therapy into the big toe joint and also the taking of pain prescription drugs. This is likely to probably work effectively for the short term however it is not likely to heal the issue. Shoes that are a lot more stiff or have a rocker under the shoe are very helpful at decreasing the action in this great toe or hallux joint, however provide for near to regular walking. There is also a carbon fibre plate that could be placed in the shoes to ensure they are stiff in order that while walking the big toe joint does not move much. Foot orthotics are also commonly used and can frequently have a rocker or other design feature that ends underneath the big toe or hallux joint also to help minimize motion with the joint. They can also be comibed with a carbon fibre plate. You can also find other types of pads which you can use as well as strapping with the big toe or hallux joint which could also be used to limit movement with the joint.

Surgical treatment is another option that can be thought about with regard to hallux rigidus. There are a few distinct techniques that a surgeon could take. One is to only stiffen the big toe joint. This tends to certainly stop the pain but will affect the method you walk about to some extent. It is still an excellent choice. One more operative approach is usually to remove a bit of bone from across the hallux joint to permit the joint to move a bit more freely. The third operative approach is to replace the hallux joint with an artificial one or put a spacer in the big toe joint and so the osteoarthritis about the joints areas is removed and the two joints surfaces move on this spacer. The option of which of those alternatives is something that the operating doctor will have to make a decision based on how much deterioration has been done to the hallux joint and just how good the bone throughout the hallux joint is and exactly how deep the osteoarthritis should go.