Sesamoiditis FAQs

Sesamoids differ from other bones in your body because of how they are attached to your body. Instead of being connected at joints throughout the body, they do so with tendons. Sesamoiditis occurs when these tendons become inflamed or enlarged. The best example would be your kneecap or patella. More commonly, we find this issue appearing in the sesamoid along the bottom of your foot near the big toe. Dancers and athletes tend to be the patients we treat for sesamoiditis because of the way they overwork this area during their routines or games.

Inflammation in these tendons generally comes from overworking them or straining them with activities such as running, dancing, swimming, and more. Repeated trauma such as wearing high heels or other shoes that do not fit correctly can also cause sesamoiditis. Avoiding these types of footwear and practicing regular warm-ups before playing sports can help decrease your chances of diagnosis.

When you begin to feel a pain developing pain under the ball of your foot, it is time to start thinking about sesamoiditis. Schedule your initial consultation at Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists with Dr. Y. Bryan Lee, D.P.M., FACFAS. He and his team will be able to discover the root cause and if sesamoiditis is the proper diagnosis. You may even notice some swelling or bruising in this area as well. Another symptom would be having difficulty lifting or straightening your big toe, and there may be a popping sensation in that same toe while walking.

As mentioned, runners, basketball players, and ballet dancers are some of our primary patients who suffer from sesamoiditis, but others such as bartenders, servers, and are on their feet and in uncomfortable shoes for a living. Older patients can also see this diagnosis simply because they have been around longer. It is often associated with an osteoarthritis diagnosis. But if you begin to feel that pain, calling Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists sooner rather than later can help with treatment in the long run and prevent other injuries.

The easy answer is sesamoiditis occurs because the tendons which connect the muscle to the bones begin to wear and tear. Repeated trauma to the front area of your foot will also start the inflammation and irritation that can lead to sesamoiditis.

Once officially diagnosed with sesamoiditis, the Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists team will begin to develop a personalized treatment plan involving medication, rest, physical therapy, and potentially surgery to see successful results. We aim to get you back to doing the things you love so much and keep you active for your health.

Sesamoidectomy involves removing the bones associated with the foot or knee with sesamoiditis. Generally, only one needs to be removed for relief in the front of your foot, but there are instances where we have had to remove both to be considered successful. Through rest, steroid injections, and medication, you should be able to dance, run, and play again in no time.

Very mild cases of sesamoiditis can relieve themselves within a few days of rest and hydration. Most general cases, though, will need about six weeks of at-home treatment and relaxation before you can hit the road again. If the case is severe enough, we may suggest getting a sesamoidectomy to achieve the relief you need to function and walk again. The healing time for that will all depend on your level of sesamoiditis. Dr. Lee and his team will be able to give you a more definitive answer in the post-surgery consultation.

This answer all depends on when you decide to seek treatment for sesamoiditis. If left unchecked or untreated, there can be permanent damage to your foot or patella. Because of this, it is critical to seek treatment from Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists as soon as you notice issues with inflammation and pain in the ball of your feet or big toe. If caught early enough, we can treat with straightforward at-home options. More severe cases of sesamoiditis will require surgery and more extended recovery periods.

The Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists team of professionals can help develop at-home treatment options to allow you to live your day-to-day life if caught early enough. Some of these treatments include anti-inflammatory medication, relaxation, ice, and heat. If the issues do not resolve with these options, we may suggest wearing a short, removable leg brace to help with relief. More serious cases can be helped with a surgical option called sesamoidectomy. We can remove one of the affected bones to get you on the mend and rid yourself of the pain. Our team has seen cases where the removal of both bones is the only option to achieve success and get you back on the road to healing.

Sesamoiditis can lead to many other issues if you leave it untreated. While the pain and potential immobility of your foot will occur, other problems like the ones listed below can stem from this initial swelling, pain, and irritation:

Turf Toe: The popping sensation you feel in your big toe with sesamoiditis can lead to turf toe. You will not be able to extend your toe fully, which can lead to crutches or being laid up for a few days. Many football and soccer players see this injury combined with sesamoiditis.

Fractures: Acute and chronic fractures can occur in your foot and big toe if you leave sesamoiditis untreated and continue to run or dance. Acute fractures tend to happen when there is a swift impact on another object, while chronic ones occur with repetitive stress or impacts.

When cases of sesamoiditis are deemed too severe by our medical staff, or you have left the issue untreated for some time, the only relief can be surgery. In your initial consultation with Dr. Lee and his staff, we will be able to go over all the issues suffered and develop a personalized treatment plan. If surgery can be prevented, we will attempt to treat it, but we will set it up for you when it is the only available option. We will also go over post-surgical treatment solutions to help while you heal at home.

When you begin to feel sharp and lingering pains in the ball of your foot or behind the big toe, it is time to reach out to Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists for a consultation. Sitting and discussing your symptoms with Dr. Lee will then lead us to set up an x-ray. Once developed, our team will be able to inspect and check for tears in the tendon. Afterward, we can explain all of your options for treatment and pain relief.

The professionals at Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists have studied all the available treatment options for sesamoiditis at all levels. When you schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee, we want to instill the most significant amount of confidence. Using modern innovations and advancements, we can find the sesamoiditis treatment plan that works for your lifestyle to get you on your feet again in no time. This can include anti-inflammatory medication, ice and heat packs, relaxation, and, if severe enough, surgery.

One sure way to reduce your risks for sesamoiditis is to make sure you are correctly stretching your feet before competing or practicing in your sport or dance routine. Suppose you do not regularly exercise or participate in sports but still have fears of sesamoiditis because of high heels and prolonged time on your feet. In that case, there is a simple solution – comfortable shoes. You can also wear your regular shoes, but make sure to get some orthopedics to cushion the ball of your foot while active. If you still have fears, reach out to Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists for advice on preventative physical therapy options.

Once you stop the activities or motions that lead to the sesamoiditis diagnosis, you will begin to feel relief. The real trick is prolonging that feeling while moving back into those same activities. Each case and treatment will be individualized for each patient. Still, generally, you will want to give yourself plenty of time to heal and recover, so the sesamoiditis doesn’t rear its ugly head again. Follow our treatment plan and listen to your body to understand when it may be acceptable for you to return to normal activities and functions.