The pain and swelling comes from deposits forming in the joint. Sharp points point like daggers into the joint and hurt a gob. Cortisone shots help, as well as ugly shoes that have a metal plate in the bottom of them so the toes don't bend so much.

After that comes the first surgery to clean the joint and build mobility. This may help for many years-depending on how the cartilage holds out.

The most aggressive surgery is to fuse the joints together. This surgery is the "cure", and fixes the pain issue once and for all. The surgeon joins the bones together permanently.

 

When my foot began hurting in that old familiar way I looked up an old friend I hadn't seen in nearly a year, Dr. Erroll Bailey of Atlanta Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Institute. This amazing physician diagnosed Hallus Rigidus in my feet last year within seconds of walking in the room. One look is all it took.

Hallus Rigidus is fancy for "straight toe." It affects the joint between the first metatarsal and phalanx of each foot, attacking in painful stages, and concluding with the bones fusing together. Dr. Bailey told me about it, and about the treatment options (see right). And since both of us are intelligent guys, I grasped the information rather quickly. We decided to do a little of everything... a little cortisone, a first surgery, and then the ultimate fixer-upper surgery to get rid of it altogether. And since we worked together so well and I learned so much I decided I should share what Dr. Bailey shared with me in this easy to follow "Fun with Foot Surgery" tutorial. (next)