Why does the ossicle on the foot near the big toe hurt? The podiatrist named possible causes

leading doctor – orthopedic traumatologist, podiatrist (specialist in foot diseases)

“An ossicle on the foot is a common problem, especially in young women. Such deformation does not appear independently. It is the result of another pathology – flattening of the forefoot or, to put it in more scientific terms, transverse flatfoot.”

In this article we will talk about what leads to the formation of “ossicle” of the big toe, how to cope with pain, as well as ways of treatment, prevention of occurrence and why the “ossicle” is called so.

Why does an ossicle appear on the foot

Hallux Valgus is a valgus deformity of the big toe, which is also called an “ossicle”. This is a common name, because it is often concerned about the visual increase in the joint of the big toe, which is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort, dull and sharp pain in the area of the toe itself and the entire foot.

If you touch the “bump”, it will turn out that it is bone dense and can be hot. This will indicate the presence of either severe friction from the shoe, or inflammation that has affected the joint and/or periarticular tissues.

The underlying mechanism for the onset and development of most forefoot disorders is weakness of the muscles, ligaments and joints of the feet. All of these changes are both hereditary in origin and acquired during life.

One of the most common causes is an increase in the load on the entire musculoskeletal system, for example, as a result of excessive body weight.

The load on the feet is also increased by:

• standing for long periods of time without movement;
• pregnancy;
• professional sports;
• trauma and improper footwear (very high heels or no heels at all).

All these factors increase the pressure on the feet, as a result of which the muscles and ligaments that form the vaults of the foot are overstretched, fatigued and flattened. In this case, the size of the foot increases, the correct process of biomechanics of the step is disturbed, and all the bones, muscles and ligaments adapt, changing position, degree of tension and shape.

Possible causes of pain

We are interested in the joint of the big toe of the foot, which consists of two bones: the first tarsal bone (the middle part of the foot) and the phalanx of the first toe. When flattening the forefoot, the first metatarsal bone tends to deviate from its correct anatomical position to the inside of the foot. The phalanx of the toe is thus deviated to the outside.

Actually, the very medical name of the disease reflects its essence. The first toe of the foot in Latin is called Hallux, and the deviation to the outer side – Valgus. As a result of the deviation of the first metatarsal bone, the joint connecting the tarsal to the phalanx is in the most distant place from its normal position. This can cause it to rub against shoes and become inflamed.

The result of this inflammation can be an enlargement of the capsule and the joint itself, which will be manifested by the growth of a “bone”. Inflammation in the joint in combination with a change in the position of the bones can be the cause of arthrosis, that is, limitation of movement of the joint, accompanied by pain.

Some pathologies can masquerade as an “ossicle”. For example, as a result of the deposition of sodium urate crystals in gout, there is a sharp pain, inflammation of the joint of the first finger, every step becomes excruciating.

To understand whether the pain in the joint is the result of an exacerbation of gout, helps laboratory analysis of the content of uric acid in the body. With gout, it is significantly elevated.

A similar picture and with rheumatoid arthritis. The joint of the big toe of the foot is involved in the inflammatory process, which leads to pain and limited movement of the foot.

In addition to the above pathologies, to the formation of foot deformity can lead to the formation of trauma. They significantly affect the formed biomechanics of gait. Therefore, it is necessary to take particular care of the feet at the most important age – childhood.

Diagnosis and treatment

To understand whether a person has a pathology of the foot, you can use several methods. They differ from each other in complexity and load for the body, but they are aimed at the same thing – identifying the degree of flattening of the forefoot and the deviation of the first toe from the correct axis for it.

The safest methods are plantoscopy or plantography. Both methods can detect pathology and determine the approximate degree of deviation.

“The gold standard” for diagnosing flat feet and hallux valgus is radiography of the foot in two projections. X-rays carry a certain radiation load, but at the same time with high accuracy allows you to determine the height of the longitudinal arch, the degree of flattening of the forefoot and deviation of the toe to the outside. Every degree counts, and the radiologist measures the degree of deviation using special points determined from the image.

To determine inflammation in the joint area, inspection, palpation, less often laboratory data, MRI, CT or ultrasound are used. Additional diagnostic methods are resorted to if the diagnosis is doubtful or requires clarification to correct the prescribed treatment.

Methods and ways to combat the ossicle on the foot are divided into two types: non-surgical and surgical. The first include combating inflammation of the joint (often non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used) and restoring the arch position of the vaults of the foot with the help of orthopedic elements (orthotizing the foot with special orthopedic insoles).

Surgical methods consist in correcting the bones by sawing them and fixing them with metal elements. Full recovery after surgery depends on the technique, but takes at least several months.

When choosing either treatment option, it is advisable to consult with your doctor to choose the most appropriate tactics and treatment options.

Both treatment options mean that it is necessary to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the foot with exercises. They allow you to strengthen the anatomical elements that make up the arches of the foot and keep them in the correct position.

Self-help and prevention

To prevent the occurrence of hallux valgus, doctors advise to maintain an optimal body mass index, strengthen the ligaments of the foot.

When choosing shoes, it is worth paying attention to a wide forefoot, the presence of a flexible shock-absorbing sole, the ability to adjust the height of the arch (lacing or Velcro), a stable back and a small heel (1.5-2 cm) for the most correct distribution of the load on the foot.

Additionally recommended:

• self-massage of the feet;
• practice of contrast shower and influence on the reflex points of the foot with an orthopedic mat;
• walking barefoot on natural irregularities such as sea pebbles, pebbles, freshly cut grass;
• use of special preventive insoles (prescribed by a doctor).

When to seek medical help

It is best to consult a doctor before the appearance of pronounced pain in the legs, when it can go straight to surgical treatment. To get to an appointment with an orthopedist can be in the polyclinic to which a person is attached. In some cases, the function of an orthopedist is performed by a surgeon.

Summarizing, we want to note that the most important thing to fight any pathology is a careful attitude to your health. Do not ignore the “red flags” of the body, when it indicates clear signs of “malfunctions in the system” by means of discomfort and pain.