L Foot, Other
2013-01-05 – 2014-01-29
Grade: 2
Self diagnosis is Hallux Limitus - restricted motion of the first toe joint on left foot. Pain occurs with activities that require significant upward flexion of the big toe. Brisk walking actually hurts more than running (flexion of big toe is greater on push off when walking fast than when running at easy effort).
This is an overuse condition that has recurred numerous times over the last 10+ years.
2/14 Update: Saw orthopedist about my left foot. After x-rays and exam, I have a definite diagnosis of hallux rigidus... fundamentally arthritis of the big toe limits the range of motion of the toe... and at the limit of available range of motion, the toe hurts. A bit of irony... more range of motion is required to walk briskly than to run at an easy pace... it hurts more to walk fast than to run.
The non-surgical treatment of choice is to limit the range of motion of the big toe. I now have a carbon fiber base plate in my left shoe. A portion of the plate (which goes under my orthotic) extends under the big toe and reduces the range of motion at toe off by about 4 degrees... enough so the joint is not traumatized. First run with the high tech foot plate will be on Saturday.
Sat 2/16 First run with carbon foot plate in left shoe. Plate turns a flexible shoe into an inflexible one. Change is enough to notice but not enough to tell immediately what accomodations I am/will make due to having a stiff shoe on one foot. Foot is sore in the evening after the run... pain seems different from basic arthritic joint soreness... maybe new strains due foot trying to flex an inflexible shoe at toe off.
Walking with the foot plate (e.g., slow walk with dog) is fine so long as I keep my stride length short... then very little toe flexion is required.
Too be determined is whether the foot plate will make the big toe pain go away, will let me run more than two days a week, or will be a permanent item. My followup visit with orthopedist is not until April 10th.
March 16 - did RoG 5 mile. No issues with big toes or with the carbon foot plate.
December 23 - toe does fine for cycling. toe tolerates slow walking in shoes with carbon foot plate to limit flexion. Toe gets unhappy when I walk faster or in more flexible shoes.
Not really recovered. Just stopped doing things that aggravate the arthritis... no running, no fast walking, always wear shoes with carbon foot plate which limits big toe range of motion. Cycling doesn't bother the toe so that's my sport for the duration.