Do I Have Stiff Big Toe (Hallux Rigidus)?

Do you have pain in your thumb during activity (walking, standing, bending, etc.)?

Do you have a limited range of motion in your toe?

Do you feel stiffness in the big toe?

Do your pain and stiffness worsen in cold, damp weather?

Do you have swelling and inflammation around the joint at the base of your toe?

Does the range of motion of the toe decrease over time so that it is difficult to walk or stand (increased difficulty in bending the toe)?

Has the way you walk changed?

Do you have dull pain in the hip, knee or lower back due to changes in the way you walk?

Do you have a bump that has developed on the top of your foot, which makes wearing shoes uncomfortable?

Do you have pain in your toe, even during rest?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a stiff big toe (hallux rigidus). Hallux rigidus is a condition characterized by pain and stiffness in the joint located at the base of the big toe. It is common in adults between the ages of 30 and 60. In most cases, the exact cause is not known. The big toe is used when walking, stooping, climbing and standing. Every step you take put a strain on the thumb joint. Hallux rigidus is related to the excessive use of the joint (workers who constantly bend or squat), injuries, and inflammatory diseases (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout).

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a stiff big toe (hallux rigidus). Hallux rigidus is a disorder that affects the joint located at the bottom of your big toe. It is characterized by pain and stiffness of the big toe, which can get worse over time, so that walking and even standing will be difficult for you. Hallux rigidus runs in families. It is believed that people inherit a certain type of foot structure (longer foot bones), or a certain way of walking that potentially leads to this condition. A diagnosis is based on a physical examination and an X-ray.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a stiff big toe (hallux rigidus). Hallux rigidus is a progressive disorder that causes stiffness in the joint at the base of the thumb that is called metatarsophalangeal, or MTP joint. Joint stiffness worsens over time. In the early phase, the movement of the thumb is only slightly limited, while later, as the condition progresses, the range of motion decreases, so that the thumb can become completely stiff (frozen joint). Treatment for mild cases of hallux rigidus includes wearing specially made shoes and orthopedic aids, medications and physical therapy. In severe cases, surgery is necessary.