Sesamoiditis is a specific type of tendonitis that affects the sesamoid bones and surrounding tendons in the ball of the foot. While most of the body’s bones are connected to other bones through joints, sesamoid bones are connected to muscles through tendons. These unique bones can easily become inflamed when the tendons around them are stressed and inflamed.
Sesamoids can be found in the hands, legs and feet, but sesamoiditis refers only to the bones embedded in the tendons under the big toe. These small, round bones sit under the big toe joint to provide leverage as the tendons move weight onto the ball of the foot. They experience the stress and shock absorption of walking just as the tendons do, which can gradually lead to inflammation and painful movement.
Learn more about what causes sesamoiditis, who is most at risk, what the symptoms are and what you can do to treat and prevent it so you can continue doing the activities you love.
Common Causes of Sesamoiditis
Overuse is the most common cause of sesamoiditis. The sesamoids and tendons can become inflamed from repetitive movement and pressure, leading to pain when trying to walk. While anyone can get sesamoiditis, those who participate in high-impact activities and frequently bear weight on the balls of their feet are at a higher risk.
Activities that can overstress the tendons and sesamoids, leading to sesamoiditis, include:
- Dancing
- Running
- Athletics
- Walking in high heels
Sesamoiditis can also be caused by direct injury or trauma to the foot. It can occur due to anatomical factors, such as high arches, flat feet or walking with an inward roll. A sudden increase in activity or wearing improper footwear during exercise or prolonged time on your feet can also lead to inflammation and pain.
Sometimes, sesamoiditis can be a side effect of gout, which is when uric acid builds up in the big toe joint. Gout flare-ups happen suddenly, while sesamoiditis pain is gradual. They are not the same condition, but gout pain and swelling can lead to sesamoiditis.
Sesamoiditis Symptoms to Watch For
Sesamoiditis develops gradually. If you ignore or push through the pain, warning signs, such as a vague aching, can be easy to miss. What may start as a dull pain under the big toe will eventually build up until it becomes an intense throbbing pain that makes walking difficult. Ignoring any aches or pains and continuously overusing the area will make the problem worse.
At its height, sesamoiditis causes symptoms such as:
- Persistent aching pain, even when resting
- Throbbing, pulsating sensations under the big toe
- Swelling
- Redness
- Difficulty bending and moving the big toe
- Bruising
- Inability to bear weight or walk
How to Prevent Sesamoiditis
The best way to prevent sesamoiditis is to pay attention to your body’s pain signals and respond as needed. If you know you have worked your feet hard after an activity or a long day of standing, take the time to rest, ice and elevate your feet to minimize inflammation.
A few other ways to practice preventive care include:
- Wearing appropriate shoes: Proper footwear can protect your feet and evenly distribute pressure during the activity you are doing. Shoes with narrow tow boxes or high heels can place strain on the ball of your foot, especially if you are doing a lot of walking.
- Using orthotics: If your job or favorite physical exercise requires a lot of weight bearing on your feet, consider wearing customer orthotics to deflect pressure away from the sesamoids. Orthotics can also help reduce the risk of sesamoiditis due to anatomical factors like high arches or flat feet.
- Preparing for exercise: Take the time to warm up and cool down properly when you exercise to reduce strain on your feet. Work your way up to longer or more intense exercises slowly to avoid sudden stress on your big toe joint.
- Strengthening your muscles: As you strengthen surrounding muscles, you can reduce pressure around your sesamoids. Stretching exercises can also improve your range of motion and flexibility, leading to less inflammation and pain after use.
- Seeking treatment: If pain continues to persist despite preventive care, seek treatment right away to manage the problem as soon as possible. Continuing to overuse and stress the area can lead to more pain and a longer recovery.
How Is Sesamoiditis Treated?
Sesamoiditis is a condition caused by repetitive stress, so the best way to treat it is to stop the activity causing the stress and to rest. Keeping pressure off the injury will help ease the symptoms and facilitate recovery. Listen to your body and work with your health care provider to return to activity gradually.
It is best to avoid high-impact activities until you are fully recovered. If you must move while you are still healing, find footwear that reduces pressure on your sesamoid bones. Try to take short steps and focus on evenly distributing pressure across your foot.
Other ways to treat sesamoiditis include:
- Doing gentle exercises: Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises, such as toe curls, can help improve motion and flexibility as you begin to recover.
- Restricting movement temporarily: Strapping or taping the big toe to restrict movement allows the foot to rest and heal.
- Going to physical therapy: For many foot and ankle problems, physical therapy is crucial to healing and a return to a full range of motion.
- Taking anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs): Your doctor may recommend NSAIDs to assist with pain management and inflammation.
- Receiving surgery: Surgery to remove one sesamoid bone is a last resort option for severe cases of chronic sesamoiditis.
Recovery times for sesamoiditis will depend on the severity of the case. Mild sesamoiditis cases can ease in a day or two with plenty of rest, ice and elevation. More severe cases can take several weeks. Giving your body enough time to heal and seeking treatment early are both key to avoiding permanent damage, especially since sesamoiditis can be a reoccurring condition.
Find Relief From Sesamoiditis and Other Foot Injuries at Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates
Sesamoiditis can be a painful condition that prevents you from doing your job or participating in activities you enjoy. At Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates, we are dedicated to helping you find treatment solutions that suit your needs and lifestyle. We strive to stay up to date on the latest advancements in medical technology and techniques so we can provide high-quality care that assists you along your healing journey.
Our team will work with you to understand your symptoms, ensuring the pain you are experiencing isn’t caused by another problem, like a stress fracture. You can count on us to provide hands-on care that is focused on getting you back to doing the things you love. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
