Metatarsophalangeal joint pain

　　Metatarsophalangeal joint pain is common in anterior segment stiffness and rigidity, hammer toe deformity, hollow foot, high-arch foot, excessive pronation of the subtalar joint (ankle inward rotation, i.e., pronation), and talus varus deformity (bursitis). Due to the overlap of the toes, patients with bursitis often have traumatic subluxation and pain in the second metatarsophalangeal joint. Painful subluxation of the metatarsophalangeal joint may also be caused by joint diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis).

　　Metatarsophalangeal joint pain is a common symptom, not the disease itself. There are many reasons for the pain in the metatarsophalangeal joint, the most common being abnormal joint surface causing subluxation and the impact of the joint capsule and synovium, leading to joint pain in turn.

　　Therefore, the complications of this disease are mainly caused by its primary disease. The most common is the further development of joint dislocation from joint subluxation, which may also cause arthritis. Some joint pain may also be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, and the most serious complication of joint lesions can lead to disability.

　　The main symptom of metatarsophalangeal joint pain patients is pain. If there is joint pain without obvious fever and swelling, it is generally possible to exclude inflammatory joint disease. It is still beneficial to check for rheumatic diseases. Joint pain without burning sensation, without numbness or tingling, can be distinguished from nerve tumors or neuralgia in the interdigital nerves, and joint palpation and joint movement can usually cause tenderness on the dorsal and plantar surfaces of the joint, while the symptoms of neuralgia are often limited to the plantar surface.

　　To prevent metatarsophalangeal joint pain, attention should be paid to the causes that can cause metatarsophalangeal joint injury and try to avoid them, such as being careful not to kick things while walking to avoid injury to the metatarsophalangeal joint, and avoiding wearing tight or small shoes.

　　Metatarsophalangeal joint pain is mainly examined by X-ray and CT to exclude organic diseases. These examinations can detect the condition, and if the metatarsophalangeal joint pain is caused by a fracture or dislocation of the metatarsophalangeal joint, it can show the manifestations of metatarsal dislocation and subluxation of the affected foot, as well as whether there is a fracture of the surrounding bone fragments. If the condition of the affected foot is severe, it can also be found that there are small bone fragments between the metatarsals.

　　The diet of patients with metatarsophalangeal joint pain should be light and nutritious, with an emphasis on eating more vegetables and fruits such as bananas, strawberries, apples, etc., as they are rich in nutrients. Eat more immune-boosting foods such as propolis to enhance personal disease resistance. It is also necessary to reasonably match the diet and ensure adequate nutrition. Patients should also avoid smoking and drinking, spicy, greasy, and cold foods to prevent recurrent episodes of the disease.

　　The treatment of metatarsophalangeal joint pain should be both etiological and symptomatic. If there are high-arched feet or hammertoe deformities, the cause should be sought. It is necessary to exclude anterior tibial muscle weakness, tight Achilles tendons, neurological diseases (such as Friedreich ataxia, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) or foot clawing sequelae of stroke. Orthopedic devices can be used to redistribute and relieve pressure on the joints. Local anesthetic injections once a week can provide long-term relief. If there is joint inflammation (bursitis), anesthetics and soluble or insoluble corticosteroids or a combination of both can be used for local injection with an interval between injections. For excessive valgus or high-arched feet at the talocrural joint, a device should be installed inside the shoe to control excessive valgus and reduce the pressure on the sole. Surgery may be considered when conservative treatment is ineffective.