Are you someone who works on your feet, runs, jumps, or dances a lot? Then you are probably familiar with the dull , aching pain you feel in the soles of your feet, especially under your big toe. But what if this pain gradually increases and eventually becomes so severe that you can't even walk? The cause may be a condition called sesamoiditis, which is caused by excessive strain on the soles of your feet. Let's talk about this in detail today.
What is Sesamoiditis?
Simply put, most of the bones in our body are connected to each other. But there is a special type of bone called "sesamoid", which does not connect to other bones. Instead, they are either attached to tendons or embedded in muscles. You can see these sesamoid bones in our hands, knees and feet.
Sesamoiditis is actually a type of tendonitis. Tendonitis is when a tendon becomes inflamed, injured, and painful. Sesamoiditis occurs when the tendons around the two sesamoid bones on the bottom of our feet, under the big toe joint, become inflamed. This condition is what causes the pain.
Why does this situation occur?
Sesamoiditis is not a sudden condition. It usually occurs due to overuse of the tendons in the sole of the foot over a long period of time. This is why this condition is common among dancers, runners, and other athletes. This is because these activities put constant pressure on the sole of the foot and the area under the big toe.
In addition, certain physical conditions and habits may increase the risk of developing this disease.
- Having flat feet: Since there is no arch in the foot, pressure is felt directly on the sole of the foot.
- Having feet with very high arches: This also puts more pressure on the sesamoid bones.
- Foot turning inward when walking.
- Wearing high heels regularly: This puts the body's weight directly on the front of the sole.
- Arthritic conditions such as Gout: Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints due to the body's excess production of uric acid. This most commonly affects the big toe joint, and it can also be a side effect of sesamoiditis.
What are the symptoms of this?
The main and most obvious symptom is pain in the sole of the foot, specifically under the big toe joint . This pain can gradually increase and eventually become so severe that walking is impossible. However, if this tendon swelling is accompanied by a stress fracture of the sesamoid bone, the pain can occur suddenly.
This pain is usually felt when walking, running, or bending over. The pain may subside with rest.
Some other common symptoms are listed in the table below.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Swelling and Redness | The area of pain may be swollen and possibly red. |
| Bruising | Sometimes, blue-black bruises can be seen in that area. |
| Difficulty bending the big toe | Pain and swelling may make it difficult to bend the big toe up and down. |
| Difficulty putting weight on the sole of the foot | When walking, you may feel so much pain that you can't put weight on the front of your foot. |
How do you find this, Doctor?
When you go to see a doctor with these symptoms, the first thing he or she will do is examine your foot. He or she will check for pain, swelling, and other things. He or she may move the joint in your big toe to see if the pain increases.
Since there are other conditions that can cause these same symptoms (for example, turf toe or certain types of arthritis), your doctor may order some tests to help differentiate between them. These tests can also help determine if there is a fracture in the sesamoid bones.
| Test | What do you see in that? |
|---|---|
| X-ray | Check for fractures of the sesamoid bones. |
| CT Scan | Even subtle fractures that are not obvious on X-rays can be detected. |
| MRI Scan | This allows you to clearly see swelling and injuries not only in the bones, but also in the tendons and other soft tissues. |
| Ultrasound Scan | This helps to observe how the tendon and joint work as the joint moves. |
| Bone Scan | It is used to detect very subtle bone disorders or infections that cannot be detected by an X-ray. Don't be afraid of the name, the amount of radiation the body receives is even less than a CT scan. |
What are the treatments for this?
The treatment method depends on the cause of your condition, its severity, and whether you have other conditions, such as a fracture.
- Rest: This is the most important thing. Whatever the cause, your doctor will probably tell you to rest your injured foot for a while, without putting any pressure on it. If you have been doing something like dancing or running that caused this condition, you may need to take a longer break from that activity.
- Painkillers (NSAIDs): Your doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling.
- Ice and Elevation: Elevating your leg and applying ice can help reduce swelling. But remember, never put ice directly on the skin. Use an ice pack or wrap it in a towel.
- Restriction of movement: To limit movement of the big toe and give the tendons a rest, your doctor may recommend taping the big toe. If the condition is severe, you may need to wear a removable short leg fracture brace for 4-6 weeks.
- Steroid injections: In severe cases, your doctor may give you a steroid injection directly into the injured tissue to quickly reduce pain and swelling.
- Physical therapy: During healing, physical therapy to restore movement in the leg and soft tissue therapy to restore soft tissue function may be recommended.
- Surgery: Surgery is only done in very chronic cases where no other treatment has helped. This involves removing one of the two sesamoid bones in the sole of the foot to relieve the pain.
How long does it take to heal?
The time it takes for this to happen varies greatly from person to person. It depends on factors such as the severity of the condition, the cause, etc. While a minor condition may resolve in a few days, a severe case may take several months to resolve.
The most important thing is to give your foot proper rest. Doing so will often help it heal faster.
But remember, if you start your old activities too soon before you're fully healed, you could end up with a permanent injury. So listen to your doctor, listen to your body, and give yourself the time it needs to fully heal.
Take-Home Message
- Sesamoiditis is the inflammation of the tendons around the sesamoid bones on the sole of the foot, under the big toe.
- This condition is more common in athletes, dancers, and people who have flat feet or wear high heels frequently.
- The main symptom is a gradually increasing pain on the sole of the foot, under the big toe.
- Rest is essential during treatment. Avoid rushing back to activity.
- If you have these symptoms, do not make decisions on your own, but definitely see a qualified doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න