How do I know if I have Big Toe Arthritis?

You will notice your big toe becomes stiff and painful. It can swell up and walking becomes difficult in normal shoes or barefoot. An X-ray is useful in diagnosing this condition. Depending of the severity of the disease and your function there are different surgical options. For milder conditions the joint can be maintained and partial bone removal (cheilectomy) is possible. In more severe disease, a fusion procedure (1st metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis) is very successful at alleviating your pain. In this procedure the diseased arthritic joint is removed and the joint is fused using a plate and screws. While some motion is lost, it doesn’t affect your everyday functionality. There are also joint implant options that can preserve range of motion in the great toe, but these have not been as successful as a fusion procedure.