The great toe, or more commonly known as the big toe, can be affected by arthritis as the joint cartilage wears down.
This causes the joint to become stiff and painful and sometimes leads to a deformed big toe.
Arthritis in the big toe can occur due to an existing condition, injury, bunions, gout, infection or an inflammatory disease.
Symptoms of arthritis in your big toe
The signs and symptoms of arthritis in your big toe include:
- pain in your toe, particularly as you walk
- swelling
- a bump on the top of your toe
- stiffness in your toe and difficulty bending it up or down.
Treatment options
You don’t always need surgery to treat arthritis in your big toe, but it is an option that may provide good results.
Non-surgical
Non-surgical options can include wearing larger shoes, or an insole to help cushion the painful areas along with anti-inflammatory medications.
Surgery
Surgery can help relieve pain and improve movement within the toe. In general, surgery is either done to clean the joint, replacing worn cartilage with a synthetic prosthesis or fuse the joint together.
Your doctor will recommend the best treatment options for you.
Recovery after surgery
It can be hard to stay off your foot after surgery as we use our feet and particularly our big toes everyday.
It generally takes up to six weeks to return to your daily activities and to be able to wear standard shoes again.
Your doctor or physiotherapist will recommend a recovery and rehabilitation program to help you get back on your feet and doing what you love as soon as possible.
Any surgical procedure carries risks. Make sure you discuss all possible risks with an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
