Hi Dr. Blake and I hope you are staying dry!
You asked that I email you with how I’m doing. We met on Tuesday, November 6th regarding pain on my right foot at the base of the second toe. You prescribed a pad with an elastic loop to wear around the second toe along with some stretching and icing.
It’s now been 11 days and I can’t say I’m felling much different. The pad is irritating to wear with sneakers or boots because when I slip my foot into the shoe, the elastic loop gets pulled down and irritates the skin at the base of the toe. Sometimes I have to take it off for a while.
I find that when I wear my clogs with an open heel, however, it is much more comfortable. I don’t usually wear clogs but it’s the only shoe that I can wear the pad pretty much all day without discomfort. I’ve been pretty religious about wearing the pad regardless.
I’ve been bad about the icing. I’ve only iced twice since seeing you.
I do the stretches but not daily.
So I haven’t been the perfect patient.
What do you suggest?
Thank you.
Dr Blake's Response:
Hey Alicia (name change), Thanks for the update. Try getting a digital gel pad at the Sports Shop to put under the splint. It is a long finger looking structure, that you can cut into 3rds to place over the one toe. I have also attached the link to Silipos company that makes these things. Then you can put the splint on tighter even. You can also use paper tape on the top of your foot to tape the splint down so it will move less. Attached is the note I wrote. Definitely ice twice daily, since the pain you are feeling is inflammation. Remember to stretch and perhaps buy some Yoga Toes so that we can begin to introduce them. Sure hope this helps. Rich PS If the icing does not bring down the inflammation along, then we can have you ice and go to PT. They would love to work on your foot.
 |
| Budin Splint is a powerful stabilizer of the toe joints. When the elastic band is irritative, a digital gel pad can be used initially over the toe, or just tape to hold down the band and prevent it from moving. |
Alicia is a return patient I have not seen for about 4 years. Nancy has pain in her right foot and second toe area for about 6 months. Her pain level on a scale of 0 to 10 is about 4 or 5. She is taking some Advil for the pain. Has 2 pairs of orthotics which both have reverse Morton's extensions made by Dr. David Hannaford. She is a 59-year-old. She is 5 feet, 128 pounds. Her activities that she likes are West Coast Swing, water aerobics, Zumba and dance aerobics. She would like to enjoy them without discomfort are her main goals.
SHE HAS NO KNOWN DRUG ALLERGIES.
Medicines she takes a regular basis include
1. Valtrex.
2. Calcium.
3. Vitamin C.
4. Vitamin D.
5. DHA.
SHE HAS NO KNOWN DRUG ALLERGIES.
Medicines she takes a regular basis include
1. Valtrex.
2. Calcium.
3. Vitamin C.
4. Vitamin D.
5. DHA.
She has had no past hospitalizations or surgery. She is on no special diet.
On my examination, I found someone who had pain in the 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint plantarly. It is sore on maximum plantar flexion of the joint, not dorsiflexion. She has full range of motion. There is no evidence of instability. She has always had a short second toe and I think that short second toe may be raising up just a little bit or the 1st and 3rd toes may be going under it. In either case it would trap the second metatarsal head against the ground and cause irritation. If you couple that with her reverse Morton's or dancer's pad, that puts the weight off the first and onto the second, so as part of her treatment I reduced the padding under the 2nd metatarsal head.
On my examination, I found someone who had pain in the 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint plantarly. It is sore on maximum plantar flexion of the joint, not dorsiflexion. She has full range of motion. There is no evidence of instability. She has always had a short second toe and I think that short second toe may be raising up just a little bit or the 1st and 3rd toes may be going under it. In either case it would trap the second metatarsal head against the ground and cause irritation. If you couple that with her reverse Morton's or dancer's pad, that puts the weight off the first and onto the second, so as part of her treatment I reduced the padding under the 2nd metatarsal head.
 |
| Alicia's 2nd toe is much like this. When the toe is being held up in the air by being above other toes, and can not physically get down to it's normal level, pain develops under the metatarsal toe joint. The pressure at push off stays too long in the one place. The splint is designed to pull the toe down into more normal alignment. |
DIAGNOSES:
1. Capsulitis symptoms, right 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint, 726.90.
2. Right hammertoe deformity, 735.4.
1. Capsulitis symptoms, right 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint, 726.90.
2. Right hammertoe deformity, 735.4.
PLAN: So today orthotic devices were evaluated and on the right side the area under the 2nd metatarsal head of the reverse Morton's extension was removed. I encouraged her to ice twice a day, encouraged her to stretch the toe in a plantigrade direction without pain. I may go to YogaToes once it is less painful. I gave her a prescription for 2 Budin splints and this will be designed to hold the toe down. She is advised that she can easily adjust the bottom if there is any pressure.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you very much for leaving a comment. Due to my time restraints, some comments may not be answered.I will answer questions that I feel will help the community as a whole.. I can only answer medical questions in a general form. No specific answers can be given. Please consult a podiatrist, therapist, orthopedist, or sports medicine physician in your area for specific questions.