Arthritis of the great toe can be painful and debilitating. It is important that you understand your options when it comes to big toe joint arthritis. If you would like to learn more about big toe joint arthritis and the various treatment options available, contact our foot and ankle clinic today!
Big Toe Joint Pain
As we get older, our joints tend to wear down, meaning movement in these areas becomes difficult and sometimes painful. When joint pain and stiffness is caused by inflammation and a breakdown of healthy tissue in the joints, this is known as arthritis. Arthritis commonly affects the knees and finger joints, but it’s also common in your feet, especially in your big toe.
If you are diagnosed with minor or mild arthritis of the big toe, your doctor will likely prescribe some conservative treatment options to help build range of motion and prevent further joint degeneration. The most common treatment options include:
- Stretching exercises
- Physical therapy
- Range of motion exercises
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Shoe modifications
These treatment options won’t reverse arthritis, but it can help preserve as much function as possible and prevent problems from getting worse.
Big Toe Joint Surgery
Conservative options are typically pretty successful so long as your condition isn’t severe. If you are suffering from a lot of joint degeneration, surgery may be your best option. There are two main surgical options:
- Joint Fusion
- Cartiva Implant
Joint fusion was the traditional surgery back in the day, but it limits the joint’s range of motion since bones are fused together. It’s also wasn’t very effective for treating pain, so medical experts have been looking into other surgical options. That’s where Cartiva comes in. Cartiva is a polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel implant that mimics the functions performed by a healthy toe joint. A recent five-year study found that the vast majority of patients who received a Cartiva implant experienced an increase in range of motion and a decrease in pain scores compared to their pre-surgical scores. What’s more, the Cartiva implant is super durable, and there was no significant degeneration of the device after five years, meaning it’s not going to break down on you.
Ankle & Foot Surgeon
Dr. Silverman performs both of the above operations, and while it is up to the patient to make the final decision, the Cartiva implant has produced better surgical outcomes in patients dealing with arthritis of the big toe joint. So if you are experiencing pain, discomfort or a loss in flexibility of your great toe, see Lance Silverman, MD today. Dr. Silverman will be able to examine your foot and prescribe some non-surgical options to help you fight back against arthritis. And if all else fails, he’ll be more than happy to walk you through your operative options.
For more information about Cartiva or to contact Dr. Silverman, click the links.