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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

foot issue, mostly the great toe

by Patricia
(New Orleans)

The great toe on my left foot is in dorsiflexion. I have tried to keep in down when walking and have created a pain in my ankle and then swelling in my foot. I treated the ankle as a sprain w/ Rice and that is much better. I don't know what type of Dr. to see to correct the dorsiflexion. Would prefer not to have surgery. Can you direct me to who I should see? An orthopedist, a podiatrist, a physical therapist? I live in New Orleans, La. I'd appreciated any direction you can give me. Thanks. Patricia

RESPONSE

Hi Patricia,

The first thing that has to be determined is why is your big toe in a dorsiflexed position. Assuming you come to find that there is no neurological explanation for this and it is simply idiopathic, meaning it just happened, the only way that I know to straighten the toe would be through a simple surgical procedure.

The tight tendon, the extensor hallucis longus tendon, or perhaps even the extensor hallucis brevis tendon, would have to be lengthened, so that your big toe would come back down to the ground. This is also assuming there is no bone obstruction at the level of the big toe joint that is not allowing the toe to come down on its own.

The procedure itself is not a terribly involved one as the tendon lies just below the skin, you can probably actually see it as it would be more pronounced in a dorsiflexed big toe.

I am not so sure a physical therapist could do anything to actually stretch the tendon so that the big toe comes back down.

So, in that case you could see either a podiatrist or an orthopedist.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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Mayo Clinic

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Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center

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Poland

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San Diego, CA

Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

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Albany, NY

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Colorado

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Colorado

Wonderful advice

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This is the best site for foot problem info.

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location unknown

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Wisconsin

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North Carolina

Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

location unknown

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Florida

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New Jersey

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a mom

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Bellevue, WA

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Jodi

location unknown

foot issue, mostly the great toe

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