MD Podiatrist Discusses Conservative Treatment of Hallux Rigidus

Hallux rigidus, also known as big toe arthritis, is the most common arthritis found in the foot. In fact, it’s so common that it’s likely either you or someone you know will suffer from this type of arthritis at some point in their life. “Once you have any pain inside a joint that won’t go away and you can’t explain, it’s time to seek treatment,” said Dan Michaels, DPM.

“I will see patients in my office for a physical exam, and then we typically take an x-ray to get a good look at the toe joint and the cartilage around it,” said Dr. Michaels. “There are many things that we can do to make it feel better and prolong the need for surgery.” Most people think that if they visit a podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon, surgery is the only answer. However, in reality, there are many different options that can be explored before surgery, including injections, over-the-counter medicines, changes in footwear, and orthotics.