At BioPed Footcare, people of all ages and all walks of life visit our clinic’s lower limb clinicians for help with foot and lower limb pain and discomfort. As a part of BioPed’s multidisciplinary team of Certified Pedorthists, Footcare Nurses and Registered Chiropodists, we enjoy providing footcare for new clients and for those they have known for years. By increasing comfort and function, we strive to improve the quality of life for all our clients.
In walks a client suffering from pain in their big toe joint…
As a Registered Chiropodist, I recall a particular client who arrived to see me because of pain in their right big toe joint. This pain did not occur suddenly, it progressively worsened over a couple years. When they arrived for their initial assessment, they were unable to walk without pain and because of this, tried to put more weight onto the left foot. When they sat down in the clinic room chair, we had a chat about their medical history and their foot pain. After examining both feet, I noticed a significant bump on the side of the right big toe and a callus on the bottom.
This bump or bony prominence on the side of the big toe joint is called a bunion. Bunions develop over time as the joint becomes misaligned and it is common for osteoarthritis to occur. Osteoarthritis is painful because of joint degeneration. As a result, it will eventually limit the joint’s range of motion and its ability to move when walking. A callus is hardened and thickened skin that results from the way the foot moves in relation to the ground. It can also be painful as it is a focused area of pressure.
In order to determine how best to address my client’s pain and discomfort, I performed a biomechanical assessment and gait analysis after performing routine footcare. I noticed a flattened arch on both feet but more on the right. The arch flattens when excess pronation or “rolling in” occurs. Consequently, there was quite a bit of pressure placed on the big toe joint. I often consult with my Certified Pedorthist team member for her opinion and together that day, we decided custom foot orthotics would provide needed arch support, help redistribute pressure on the bottom of the foot and improve balance when walking.
We also felt this client’s footwear could be improved. Some footwear is designed with a rocker bottom sole to encourage momentum forward thereby offloading the pressure on and movement in the big toe joint. Increased stability and control of pronation also help to relieve pain and discomfort in the foot and lower body.
In order to make walking more efficient and balanced for this client, I recommended regular routine footcare, custom foot orthotics, and appropriate footwear. Custom foot orthotics often require a break-in or adjustment period, but for this particular client, their pain started to improve with their first steps. Their big toe joint pain dissipated quickly to be mild and under control and the need to put more weight on the opposite side decreased as they felt relief with this new combination.
Unfortunately, osteoarthritis is irreversible once it has developed, but it can be managed well with the modalities mentioned above.
If you are suffering from joint pain or any other type of lower body pain, call BioPed Footcare today to make an appointment to discuss treatment options designed specifically for you to help you do more in life!
