Running with Hallux Rigidus

hmurray

I wonder if anyone has had surgery for Hallux Rigidus and how long was recovery. As a child i was always very active and sporty i played football, soccer and did a lot of long distance running. As i had this interest in fitness i became a fitness instructor. However in the last few years i developed severe pain in my big toes and it was discovered i had hallux rigidus. Exercise became impossible even walking was painful. I also struggle with depression and found running and exercise a great form of therapy. I had surgery on one foot on 3rd Oct initially the surgeon thought he might have to do a fusion but he discovered more cartilage and instead performed a cheilectomy. I was hoping to have surgery on the other foot before christmas but the first foot is still swollen and painful. I thought by this stage i would be able walk comfortably maybe even run but thats not the case. I experience pain with every step but i have good movement. As anyone else had this surgery and how long before swelling and pain goes. This is affecting the depression too as i can t work or do what i love most and i don t see an improvement. Now i m afraid to get the othet surgery and worry will i be ever able run , work again ? Advice please.

JohnnyCrash

Hi there,though I havnt had the surgery,I can feel your pain.I have Hallux Rigidus in one big toe as a result of an injury when I was a kid.It was very painful to walk any distance let alone run.I too ran a lot when I was younger and only got back running in the last few years.I took up Chi running as it doesn't use a toe off to run and found it very beneficial.I actually found that I have a slightly better range of motion in the toe now and its certainly not as painful now as it was before I got back into running.One drawback is that I now get PF as a result of it not stretching due to the lack of full motion in the toe,but its the lesser of two evils.Im currently doing 30-40 miles per week and have a couple of marathons under the belt,so all is not lost. Was looking into the surgery at one stage but to me,the cons seemed to outweigh the pros.

hmurray

JohnnyCrash wrote: »

Hi there,though I havnt had the surgery,I can feel your pain.I have Hallux Rigidus in one big toe as a result of an injury when I was a kid.It was very painful to walk any distance let alone run.I too ran a lot when I was younger and only got back running in the last few years.I took up Chi running as it doesn't use a toe off to run and found it very beneficial.I actually found that I have a slightly better range of motion in the toe now and its certainly not as painful now as it was before I got back into running.One drawback is that I now get PF as a result of it not stretching due to the lack of full motion in the toe,but its the lesser of two evils.Im currently doing 30-40 miles per week and have a couple of marathons under the belt,so all is not lost. Was looking into the surgery at one stage but to me,the cons seemed to outweigh the pros.

Hi thanks for feedback wow i d love to be running that distance and had/have plans to do a marathon?? Physio had mentioned Chi Running i will look into that thank you

hmurray

JohnnyCrash wrote: »

Hi there,though I havnt had the surgery,I can feel your pain.I have Hallux Rigidus in one big toe as a result of an injury when I was a kid.It was very painful to walk any distance let alone run.I too ran a lot when I was younger and only got back running in the last few years.I took up Chi running as it doesn't use a toe off to run and found it very beneficial.I actually found that I have a slightly better range of motion in the toe now and its certainly not as painful now as it was before I got back into running.One drawback is that I now get PF as a result of it not stretching due to the lack of full motion in the toe,but its the lesser of two evils.Im currently doing 30-40 miles per week and have a couple of marathons under the belt,so all is not lost. Was looking into the surgery at one stage but to me,the cons seemed to outweigh the pros.

Hi thanks for feedback wow i d love to be running that distance and had/have plans to do a marathon?? Physio had mentioned Chi Running i will look into that thank you