Metatarsophalangeal Joints
I've got Hallux Rigidus, which is a fancy word for arthritis, in both big toes, slowly growing more annoying over the years.
One should be able to stand on ones tiptoes, bending the toe back a bout ninety degrees (that's pi/2 radians, in case you forgot what degrees are). My left toe bends about 45 degrees and my right toe about 15 degrees. This makes some things painful and other things impossible. Many types of dancing require me to wear heavy enough shoes so that I can go on full point, since demi-point is not an option.
Hallux Rigidus is caused by the growth of bone spurs on the bones on either side of the joint. Thus when the toe bends the spurs bump into each other.
The solution is a Cheilectomy, which basically chops the spurs off, sawing my toe bone in a nice beveled angle so it can bend again. Recovery involves keeping my foot elevated, and not using it, for 10 days or so. I'll be allowed to use my right heel for small amounts of walking, so I won't have crutches.
I'm getting the right toe done tomorrow. If it goes well I'll probably have the other side done at some point.
One should be able to stand on ones tiptoes, bending the toe back a bout ninety degrees (that's pi/2 radians, in case you forgot what degrees are). My left toe bends about 45 degrees and my right toe about 15 degrees. This makes some things painful and other things impossible. Many types of dancing require me to wear heavy enough shoes so that I can go on full point, since demi-point is not an option.
Hallux Rigidus is caused by the growth of bone spurs on the bones on either side of the joint. Thus when the toe bends the spurs bump into each other.
The solution is a Cheilectomy, which basically chops the spurs off, sawing my toe bone in a nice beveled angle so it can bend again. Recovery involves keeping my foot elevated, and not using it, for 10 days or so. I'll be allowed to use my right heel for small amounts of walking, so I won't have crutches.
I'm getting the right toe done tomorrow. If it goes well I'll probably have the other side done at some point.