Dr. Carla Goddard

Big Toe Arthritis or Hallux Rigidus



Posted: Friday, August 13, 2010

by Dr. Carla Goddard

Arthritis in the Big Toe? Ever heard of Hallux Rigidus? You have if you have arthritis in your big toe. It is the medical term for the joint at the base of the big toe (the metatarophalangeal joint or MTP joint) that is affected by arthritis. This is the joint where the long bone of the foot and the small bone of the big toe come together. Because of how the foot works, this particular foot joint is commonly affected by arthritis. It is sometimes referred to as gout; however, gout is not singularly affecting the big toe.

The pain can be acute going quickly to severe when you do anything from stand to walk on that foot. In time it can become so inflamed that it causes bone spurs that make the toe deformed causing even wearing shoes to be painful.

The typical remedies include the anti inflammatory medications that are recommended for nearly every other form of arthritis. In addition, most physicians will recommend wearing special stiff-soled shoes that will limit the motion of your toe. Some even need have special orthopedic inserts in order to take into consideration any deformity that has occurred.

Another solution is surgery. Sometimes for hallux rigidus this is the best solution, especially if the shoes are not helping to ease the situation at all. There are two different types of surgeries that are done. One is chilectomy which removes the bone spur enabling the joint motion to be unblocked. If the joint cartilage is gone, the other option is arthrodesis which fuses the joint which eliminates much of the pain by removing the mobility of the joint.

Of course, for women there are high heel shoes are not recommended. Most physicians will also recommend exercises for the toe joint to keep it mobile. Seeing a podiatrist is also normally recommended. They can provide different types of alternatives besides the inserts. Many times they can offer splints as an alternative to fusion surgery, administer cortisone injections or hyaluronic acid injections to help with pain, and potentially have other foot specific orthapedic exercises and remedies directly related to the foot bones.
Dr. Carla Goddard is a contemporary Shaman Medicine Woman. Father was of a small Nation in Maine, trained with a Mohawk Shaman, studied with a Waiest Monk, and academia background in Metaphysical Sciences specializing in Parapsychology.

She draws upon the energetic flow of life to share with people a path to heal their own souls, to find the flow of energy in their own life, and to have profound shifts in awareness. Connecting individuals with their own soul and with other soul’s to create a “tribe"; her own desire to change the world one soul at a time across the globe by envisioning what the world needs next. Believing that the change in the world will happen through active presence, active communication, and active connections to blaze a new path.

Learn More About Carla visit her website at http://www.shamanmedicinewoman.net/about-dr-carla-goddard.html

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