Sesamoids: Little Bones that Can Cause Big Problems
At Goldsmith Podiatry, sometimes our Manhattan patients come to us complaining of pain in the ball of the foot. Sometimes it may feel like a pebble in your shoe or your sock is bunched up. Other patients may feel a dull ache or pain under the big toe that may come and go, getting worse with activity and better with rest. The source of this discomfort often turns out to be two tiny bones known as sesamoids.
Small but Mighty
Sesamoids are pea-size bones embedded in tendons. They only occur in a few areas in the body; one of them is your feet at the base of the big toe. Although small, these bones play a key role in your ability to walk, jump, stand and run. They act as a pulley enabling the big toe to push off. There are several ways sesamoids can become inflamed or injured:
Turf Toe—this is an acute injury of the soft tissue surrounding the sesamoids that usually occurs when your toe jams into a surface and the rest of the body keeps moving. This is a risk of playing on artificial turf fields, hence the name “turf toe.” When a turf toe injury happens, you will usually experience a sharp pain at the site and may feel a “popping” sensation. This is an injury that requires immediate medical attention.
Fractures—a fracture of the sesamoid bones can happen if there is a direct blow to the toe or other traumatic injury. Signs of a fracture include acute pain and swelling. It is also possible to suffer a stress fracture to the sesamoids. The pain in this case is usually dull and can be intermittent.
Sesamoiditis—this inflammation of the sesamoids is typically an overuse injury. People who play sports such as football, basketball, tennis, running, or golf are at risk for sesamoiditis. Also, patients with high arches and those who spend a significant amount of time in high heels which force the foot forward are more likely to develop sesamoid problems.
If you are experiencing discomfort in the ball of your foot, make an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling: 212-877-1002. Our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, and Dr. Kristina Ruff will diagnose the source of your foot discomfort and prescribe the best treatment for your foot pain.