How To Spot Sesamoiditis

Difficulty Moving The Big Toe

With the sesamoid bones being located just underneath the big toe, difficulty moving the big toe is a major symptom of sesamoiditis used in diagnosing the condition. Sesamoiditis patients may have difficulty bending and moving the big toe up and down and side to side. In particular, pain may be intense when trying to move the toe upwards. A clinical examination by an orthopedist can help determine the cause of these movement difficulties. During the exam, the orthopedist will touch the sesamoid bones and toes to check for swelling, discomfort, and pain. They may also bend the toe or ask the patient to try to bend it, paying particular attention to whether there is more pain when the toe is in an upward position. The painful side will be compared against the unaffected side. The doctor will order x-rays of the foot to check the sesamoid bones are not fractured to confirm sesamoiditis. An x-ray of the unaffected foot may also be taken to assess bone structure, and in some cases, a bone scan may be needed to obtain further information and confirm the diagnosis.

Get to know more about the various symptoms of sesamoiditis now.