New boots, painfull toe joint.
Discussion
Not the knuckle but the big joint, think it's maybe called the ball of the foot.
I'm normally a trainers, soft combat boots, Salomons wearing bloke and only wear proper shoes at weddings and the odd posh lunch but yesterday I thought that it was time, 51 last weekend, that I smartened myself up a bit.
Bought a pair of skinny designer jeans and felt that they needed some decent footwear to go with them. Got some Oxford style slip on boots. Really comfy, at first, and wore them all day to wear them in. Did about 3 miles or so in them.
Big toe joint on my left foot started giving me trouble but I pressed on determined to wear the buggers in. Come bed time I took them off and my left foot was pretty swollen and the joint looked inflamed and warm to the touch. Google came up with Gout
although not quite the pain that was described on the various sites.
Not so swollen this morning but the main joint looks big compared to my right foot but feels hard and boney, not fleshy and swollen. Back in off-road trainers, my most comfortable, today but still limping when walking.
I have had a, not as bad, problem like this before with a pair of desert boots that are about a size too big. I thought that it might be to do with the foot clawing as the boot moves around like a flip flop. I'm thinking that the actions of the new slip on boot may involve the foot in the same action although they feel a good fit.
Any ideas folks, ta.
I'm normally a trainers, soft combat boots, Salomons wearing bloke and only wear proper shoes at weddings and the odd posh lunch but yesterday I thought that it was time, 51 last weekend, that I smartened myself up a bit.
Bought a pair of skinny designer jeans and felt that they needed some decent footwear to go with them. Got some Oxford style slip on boots. Really comfy, at first, and wore them all day to wear them in. Did about 3 miles or so in them.
Big toe joint on my left foot started giving me trouble but I pressed on determined to wear the buggers in. Come bed time I took them off and my left foot was pretty swollen and the joint looked inflamed and warm to the touch. Google came up with Gout
although not quite the pain that was described on the various sites.Not so swollen this morning but the main joint looks big compared to my right foot but feels hard and boney, not fleshy and swollen. Back in off-road trainers, my most comfortable, today but still limping when walking.
I have had a, not as bad, problem like this before with a pair of desert boots that are about a size too big. I thought that it might be to do with the foot clawing as the boot moves around like a flip flop. I'm thinking that the actions of the new slip on boot may involve the foot in the same action although they feel a good fit.
Any ideas folks, ta.
It might be something called functional hallux limitus.
The different shoes are putting your 1st ray into a suboptimal position and casuing the 1st MTPJ (big toe joint) to essentially lock rather than bend when you toe off and putting strain on the joint. Pain and inflammation follows.
If it's really bad then consider going to the GP or contacting you local community health care service and seeing if you can refer yourself directly to Podiatry so they can have a poke about. You can improve 1st MTPJ function with orthotics btw.
Or....it could be gout too. Needs to be confirmed with a combination of history, examination and blood testing...see the GP for that.
The different shoes are putting your 1st ray into a suboptimal position and casuing the 1st MTPJ (big toe joint) to essentially lock rather than bend when you toe off and putting strain on the joint. Pain and inflammation follows.
If it's really bad then consider going to the GP or contacting you local community health care service and seeing if you can refer yourself directly to Podiatry so they can have a poke about. You can improve 1st MTPJ function with orthotics btw.
Or....it could be gout too. Needs to be confirmed with a combination of history, examination and blood testing...see the GP for that.
Thanks mate. A very detailed answer. Cheers 
Are you a foot doctor then? I mean Podiatrist, if that's how you spell it.
Thanks again.
ETA Looks likely that's my problem going by Google and YouTube. I appear to have the dorsal bunion that is talked about in connection with this condition. Considering that an urgent look at my heart took nearly 2 months, and diagnoses to op took 1.5 years for a rapidly growing Basal cell, I think I'll go private and straight to an expert.
Thanks again.
Are you a foot doctor then? I mean Podiatrist, if that's how you spell it.
Thanks again.
ETA Looks likely that's my problem going by Google and YouTube. I appear to have the dorsal bunion that is talked about in connection with this condition. Considering that an urgent look at my heart took nearly 2 months, and diagnoses to op took 1.5 years for a rapidly growing Basal cell, I think I'll go private and straight to an expert.
Thanks again.
Edited by croyde on Wednesday 25th September 13:27
Edited by croyde on Sunday 29th September 10:11
at your second. Really doubting gout as it's only painful, cripplingly so, in the new boots. 2 long days of walking and standing back in my Salomon Trainers and the pain is barely noticeable.
Put a pair of my nice yet worn in smart shoes on today and the pain was back within a half mile.
Just when I thought that I'd make an effort these days, it looks that I am sentenced to wearing soft trainers only
Put a pair of my nice yet worn in smart shoes on today and the pain was back within a half mile.
Just when I thought that I'd make an effort these days, it looks that I am sentenced to wearing soft trainers only
Sorry to bang on 
But your original diagnoses appears to be pretty accurate. I've read a bit that this condition is worsened by the wearing of any shoe with a heel. The Oxford boots and my only smart shoes both have a small heel ie not flat like trainers or combat style boots, and as I said before, it was the new boots that made me acutely aware of the problem.
Thanks again and I'll be making an appointment at the doc's this week.
Anyone want to buy a pair of Caterpillar Vinsons, almost new in size 10.
But your original diagnoses appears to be pretty accurate. I've read a bit that this condition is worsened by the wearing of any shoe with a heel. The Oxford boots and my only smart shoes both have a small heel ie not flat like trainers or combat style boots, and as I said before, it was the new boots that made me acutely aware of the problem.
Thanks again and I'll be making an appointment at the doc's this week.
Anyone want to buy a pair of Caterpillar Vinsons, almost new in size 10.
Just an update, if anyone is interested
Have an appointment to be assessed for surgery at the end of Jan. Trouble is I have contacted the doctor that I am to see and he doesn't do key hole surgery. From what I've read, you can be back on your feet pretty sharpish after keyhole but it can take weeks and weeks to get fit after normal surgery.
Might have to go private but will be looking at around £5k.
As to shoes, I've read a lot of stuff about how people in other countries who don't wear shoes or just use minimal sandels like flip flops rarely get these types of problems with their feet.
Without the confines of Western style shoes the feet are free to splay out and the toes are properly alined. Also a lot of shoes have Toe Spring ie the sole bends up at the toes, causing more problems with putting the foot in an unnatural position. The theories suggest shoes with a very wide end and flat to the floor. They look a bit like duck feet.
Other suggestions are the almost barefoot type running shoes like the Vibram 5 Finger trainers. They look like gloves for your feet with a minimal bit of rubber for the sole.
So I have been currently surviving in my well worn Salomon trainers which do allow me to splay my toes. This has helped a bit but I'm still in pain after half a mile but yesterday I took delivery of my first ever pair of Converse plimsols.
I always shied away from these as they seemed amazingly expensive for what looks like the gear I wore when doing sports at school in the 70s. My mum used to get them from Woolworths
But I have to say, I stuck them on and walked 3 miles to the pub with no discomfort at all. Weird that I can feel all the imperfections and ridges in the pavement but they allow my toes to sort of spread and they are completely flat. It's as damn near to walking in my bare feet.
I walked back as well and still no pain.
OK my daughter is laughing at me for trying to look young but have I inadvertently stumbled upon a solution that actually looks fashionable unlike some of the offerings I have seen.
Have an appointment to be assessed for surgery at the end of Jan. Trouble is I have contacted the doctor that I am to see and he doesn't do key hole surgery. From what I've read, you can be back on your feet pretty sharpish after keyhole but it can take weeks and weeks to get fit after normal surgery.
Might have to go private but will be looking at around £5k.
As to shoes, I've read a lot of stuff about how people in other countries who don't wear shoes or just use minimal sandels like flip flops rarely get these types of problems with their feet.
Without the confines of Western style shoes the feet are free to splay out and the toes are properly alined. Also a lot of shoes have Toe Spring ie the sole bends up at the toes, causing more problems with putting the foot in an unnatural position. The theories suggest shoes with a very wide end and flat to the floor. They look a bit like duck feet.
Other suggestions are the almost barefoot type running shoes like the Vibram 5 Finger trainers. They look like gloves for your feet with a minimal bit of rubber for the sole.
So I have been currently surviving in my well worn Salomon trainers which do allow me to splay my toes. This has helped a bit but I'm still in pain after half a mile but yesterday I took delivery of my first ever pair of Converse plimsols.
I always shied away from these as they seemed amazingly expensive for what looks like the gear I wore when doing sports at school in the 70s. My mum used to get them from Woolworths
But I have to say, I stuck them on and walked 3 miles to the pub with no discomfort at all. Weird that I can feel all the imperfections and ridges in the pavement but they allow my toes to sort of spread and they are completely flat. It's as damn near to walking in my bare feet.
I walked back as well and still no pain.
OK my daughter is laughing at me for trying to look young but have I inadvertently stumbled upon a solution that actually looks fashionable unlike some of the offerings I have seen.
Edited by croyde on Thursday 28th November 18:56
The only difference between open and key hole surgery is that with key hole you may have a few small incisions, versus one larger one with open surgery, the amount of work your body has to do to recover is the same, and so the recovery is broadly the same. Of course with keyhole surgery the surgeon cant actually see what is going on, and relies on fluoroscopy, whereas in open surgery the surgeon can see exactly whats going on with the naked eye.
there are many ways to skin a cat, but sometimes the simplest is best
there are many ways to skin a cat, but sometimes the simplest is best
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