Sesamoiditis Treatment in Sugar Land, TX

Everything to Know About Sesamoiditis & Treatment Options

Sesamoiditis is a foot condition that causes inflammation of the sesamoid bones and nearby tendons. These bones are located in the ball of the foot. It can occur due to overuse or repetitive stress. At Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists, we have a team of foot doctors and medical specialists who have over a decade of experience in sesamoiditis treatment. We provide personalized patient care, advanced diagnostic services, and advanced treatment technology. Call us today to schedule a consultation to diagnose and treat sesamoiditis in Sugar Land, TX.

What Is Sesamoiditis?

Your sesamoids are small bones embedded in tendons in the balls of your feet. They are the size of a pea and exist to provide leverage to the tendons when you move onto the ball of your feet. If you put excessive stress or strain on these tendons, the tendons and sesamoids can become inflamed and tender. Our team of medical specialists can assess your symptoms, lifestyle, and overall health to determine if you have sesamoiditis. We may perform a physical evaluation or ask you to perform simple physical movements in front of us so that we can assess your balance, strength, gait, and range of motion. We may take an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to rule out other foot injuries that could be causing your symptoms, like a stress fracture, turf toe, or arthritis.

What Are Common Sesamoiditis Causes?

Sesamoiditis is a foot condition that occurs due to repetitive stress or overuse of your tendons. You are more likely to get this condition if you are a runner, dancer, or athlete. You are also at risk if you frequently wear high heels, have very flat feet, or have very high arches. It can also occur as a complication of gout or arthritis.

What Are Common Sesamoiditis Symptoms?

Sesamoiditis symptoms usually develop slowly and gradually. You will first notice dull pain under your big toe. The pain might become so bad that it’s hard for you to walk or stand. Other symptoms of sesamoiditis include:

• Swelling and inflammation
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Bruising
• Loss of range of motion in your big toe
• Trouble walking, standing, or putting weight on your foot
• Increasing pain under your big toe

What Increases Your Risk for Sesamoiditis?

Anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet, either standing or walking, could be at risk of sesamoiditis. The risk is higher if you have flat feet, high arches, or frequently wear high heels. People in certain professions or who take part in certain hobbies are also at a higher risk:

• Runners
• Dancers
• Athletes
• People with overpronation
• People with gout or arthritis

Our Sesamoiditis Foot Treatment Options

When you visit us for foot pain, we will do a thorough evaluation to assess the cause of your pain. We will ask about your medical history, past surgeries, medications, and illnesses. We will also ask about your job, hobbies, and lifestyle habits. We may run diagnostic testing and ask you to perform physical movements in front of us so that we can identify signs of imbalance, balance issues, weakness, or reflex problems. If necessary, we will take an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to rule out other causes of foot pain. When we have a better understanding of what is causing your sesamoiditis, we can recommend a treatment plan:

• Rest, Ice, and Elevation – We always prefer to start with more conservative treatment options when possible. Rest, ice, and elevating your feet can sometimes reduce your symptoms. You will need to avoid putting stress or pressure on your big toes until your symptoms go away. We will also recommend over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen sodium.
• Laser Therapy – Laser therapy is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment for foot pain. If you’re interested in drug-free pain management, we recommend you start with laser therapy. Our state-of-the-art medical laser penetrates deep within the tissues and tendons in your foot to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. Laser therapy can reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling and help you get back on your feet again faster.
• Physical Therapy – If your sesamoiditis is due to pronation, we may recommend physical therapy to change your gait. If you have to wear a brace while you heal, we may recommend physical therapy to restore your flexibility and range of motion after treatment.
• Custom Orthotics – If your sesamoiditis is due to flat feet or high arches, we may recommend custom orthotics. Orthotics are special shoe inserts that add cushioning and support and correct foot issues.
• Lifestyle Modifications – We will recommend that you make certain lifestyle changes as you heal and prevent sesamoiditis from recurring. We may suggest that you continue wearing custom orthotics, avoid wearing high heels, take up a different method of exercise, like low-impact exercise, and get enough rest in between activities that could put stress on your sesamoids.
• Sesamoiditis Surgery – We may recommend surgical intervention if conservative sesamoiditis treatment is ineffective. We may recommend removing one or both of the sesamoid bones or excising a fractured sesamoid.

Can I Prevent Sesamoiditis?

Yes, it is possible to prevent or reduce your risk of sesamoiditis. You can do a few things to reduce your risk of sesamoiditis:

• Wearing custom orthotics to provide more support and cushioning to your joints, tendons, and sesamoids.
• Avoid wearing high heels.
• Wear comfortable shoes, especially when on your feet all day.
• Take part in preventive physical therapy.
• Rest regularly between periods of activity to prevent inflammation and repetitive stress injuries.

Schedule a Consultation for Chronic Sesamoiditis Treatment

If you suspect you’re showing symptoms of sesamoiditis in Sugar Land, TX, schedule a consultation with our team. Call or contact us online to get started with one of our experienced foot doctors. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff has extensive experience diagnosing and treating foot and ankle injuries and disorders, and we will make sure you get personalized attention.