sesamoiditis

by Skyler
(California)

I was jump roping about 3 weeks ago and I felt a semi large pop in right big toe. I immediately stopped but the pain persisted whenever I put pressure on my big toe when walking.

The pain is in the ball of my right big toe. Id say the pain is mainly going toward the side of the toe and downwards. I say this because I've been still using my right foot but been trying to keep the pressure off of my right toe. Mostly by staying on the other ball of my toes which hasn't been feeling to comfortable haha. I feel no pain when pressing on the area with my fingers but when I walk it hurts. The is pain is not really sharp but my toe feels like it is going to give out if I keep the pressure on it.

After three weeks i can feel it slightly getting better but its a real bummer. Any diagnosis doc?

RESPONSE

Hi Skyler,

The fact that you heard a "semi large pop" in your toe should be cause for some degree of concern. My first thought would be that you might have torn a ligament , or even a tendon where it attaches into bone.

In your photo, the area you are pointing to is where the tibial sesamoid bone is located. Just behind the big toe, there are two bones about the size of jelly beans. These bones act as a lever to allow the tendons that bend the big toe downwards, to function.

I have often said that when man was created the sesamoid bones were placed in a lousy position simply because they are subject to trauma due to their poor location.

Evidently, while jumping rope you did damage to one of the sesamoid bones. The problem is we do not know how extensive the damage may have been. As previously stated, the popping sound may indicate a torn ligament or perhaps tendon, either of which do attach to the sesamoid bone.

Additionally, there is also the possibility that you fractured the bone as that is a fairly common occurrence as well, and lastly there is always just the chance that you bruised the bone.

The quickness with which you heal will be determined by the actual damage done.

Do not be mislead by the fact that the area is feeling "a little bit better" as in most injuries, after the initial pain and inflammation, the symptoms will subside somewhat. The problem is that the symptoms you have now may just never improve beyond what they are now.

This is further compounded by the problem that every time you walk on the foot you are essentially re-injuring an already injured area. That is why foot pain can take so long to heal.

The fact that it has been over three weeks now since the injury and the fact that you have to walk on the other side of your foot, it would lead me to believe that your injury may be more than just a bruise.

The best advice I could ever give you would be to see a foot specialist in your area and have a thorough examination of the foot which will probably include an x-ray.

Sesamoiditis which is inflammation of the sesamoid bone can end up being an ongoing painful condition if not professionally treated.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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