Hallux Rigidus

Your big toe plays a major role in the balance of your foot, so it’s a serious problem if your toe is becoming less flexible. Hallux Rigidus is a term that describes arthritis in the metatarsophalangeal, or MTP joint, which connects the big toe to the rest of the foot. We at the Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates of Lorain have helped a lot of people to manage this condition, but if it’s not caught early, it can cause permanent damage.

Some people have a genetic susceptibility to cartilage damage in their feet, but loss of cartilage can be exacerbated by overuse. If a person’s ankle rolls inwards, they’ll put a lot of stress on their MTP joint. A person who suffers from gout or has a rheumatoid condition will also have damaged cartilage, and as the bones of their toes rub together, they may grow a spur. This may cause a visible bump in the top of the foot that could be mistaken for a bunion, and a patient will likely feel pain in their big toe when they push off from the ground while walking. Some people also feel more pain in damp weather.

It’s always important to wear shoes with sufficient room in the toe box, but that’s especially true if you’re experiencing MTP stiffness. If your stiffness has already progressed, you might need to wear a shoe with a rocker-shaped bottom to compensate for your big toe’s inability to help you move. We can provide nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to reduce swelling, and can provide corticosteroid injections in more advanced cases. Many people find corrective orthotics helpful. It may also be possible for us to remove a bone spur surgically. However, patients need to see us before too much irreplaceable cartilage is lost or our options will be more limited, and it’s better to see us before spurs develop.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

 

Common Causes of Heel Pain

As podiatrists who specialize in sports medicine, we at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain want all our patients to continue leading active lifestyles. Keeping the lower limbs strong and flexible will prevent problems later in life, but athletes are at greater risk for overuse injuries. Heel pain is a common problem that can usually be traced to biomechanical defects that worsen over time, so this week’s blog post is about recognizing why they develop.

Most heel pain is caused by a problem with the plantar fascia or the Achilles tendon. The plantar fascia is what connects the heel to the ball of the foot. It can suffer wear when a person has fallen arches or they develop a bone spur on the back of their heel. The Achilles tendon travels down the back of the ankle to the heel and may be inflamed when a person’s shoes are rubbing against it. Inflammation here can also result in the growth of a bone spur.

Although these problems are usually treatable with rest, they are worth examining in case the heel pain is actually being caused by an infection or fracture. People with plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis may benefit from supportive shoe inserts and from doing stretching exercises to loosen up their tissues. We can provide patients with anti-inflammatory medications, and in severe cases, can discuss surgical options such as bone spur removal.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

 

Morton's Neuroma

If you have pain in the front of your foot, you may have a condition called Morton’s neuroma. This ailment is usually responsive to conservative treatment, but it can get worse without intervention and needs to be properly identified, so we at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain thought it would be a good idea to teach our patients more about it.

A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue. It creates pressure on the surrounding tissues and causes numbness or a sharp pain. Morton’s neuroma is the name of a neuroma that develops between the third and fourth toe. It is often described as feeling like a person has a stone in their shoe and tends to develop in people who wear shoes that slide their feet forward into narrow toe boxes. Partly for this reason, it is more common in women, but it also occurs frequently in runners of both sexes.

Morton’s neuroma is identified through imaging, tactile, and range of motion examinations. To treat it, podiatrists recommend roomier, more supportive shoes with customized orthotics. Patients may also receive anti-inflammatory injections. Most people find this sufficient, but in advanced cases, surgical reduction of the neuroma is an option. We will also treat co-occurring disorders such as bunions.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.