Getting to the "Root Causes" of ill health (updated 12/08/14)

The following is correspondence from a man in his 30's who had mysteriously developed bilateral non-traumatic arthritis in his big toes. I get a lot of inquiries from readers about toe arthritis. Traditional solutions for this painful injury usually consist of orthotics, steroid injections and even surgery. But what is the root cause? Why would an otherwise apparently healthy person who is health conscious, develop arthritis in both feet for no apparent reason?

When it comes to health, I regard a person's feet as being their "canary's in the coal-mine". If something is amiss in the body, it may be the feet in which the first symptoms show. While treating the feet may be necessary, doing so while ignoring the systemic possibilities is a bit like killing the canary so that one can ignore the methane buildup in the mine.

In the following case, careful questioning and history-taking all pointed to the possibility that he was being chronically poisoned by dental infections. My advice was to urgently seek the services of a dentist.

My brother, the dentist, and my sister, the dental nurse, will both be very proud that their brother gave such sound advice!

You will gather, from the correspondence that follows, that it is very early days and it will be some time before we know if this man's sore feet are, in fact, being caused, or being made worse, by dental infections. We do know that dental abscesses can be systemically debilitating and are associated with conditions such as heart disease and it just so happens that there is a close link between heart disease and arthritis with infection being the commonality.

I'll let you know how he fares and if he recovers sufficiently to avoid surgery.

Gary
(The correspondence that follows is published with permission from the writer)

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Hello Gary,
Well it appears your instincts were correct Gary. I saw the dentist today and he explained that I have a gum infection which is triggering a systemic inflammatory response. Additionally that tooth that is bothering me is actually two teeth that are fractured and both will need crowns. He says there is a point of no return with teeth being savable and I am very close to that point, he feels imminent treatment is necessary so I do not lose the teeth. He also wants to refer me to a surgeon to have the root canal extracted as he says it has failed, and also there are negative health effects due to the presence of the metals. All of this combined is putting enormous stress on my immune system and he believes that will manifest in various ways throughout the body (arthritic joints for example).

He also felt (as do you) that if left unresolved this could escalate into a full blown autoimmune problem and major health consequences moving forward. Apparently that has already begun to happen to some degree as I've suffered with this for around 2 years now (the root canal is even older dating back to 2001); I have escalating health issues and symptom now whereas I have always been perfectly healthy and lived a healthy lifestyle previously.

Most unfortunately for me at this time is that I cannot afford the dental treatments or the full array of blood tests, and I'm not sure taking the HTMA test matters much with these other unresolved issues going on. I will contact you again once I have been able to properly resolve these issues and take all of the suggested tests, and although that may take some time it is most definitely my top priority.

Thank You Gary for your excellent assistance and professional advice! I look forward to resuming with you when possible.

As it turns out, dealing with the gum infection is rather easy. The stressed teeth (fractured & root canal) obviously need other treatments but there are some simple things we can do to deal with the infection. The dentist said that the way you cure the gum infection is by using an interdental brush and baking soda:
https://www.dentalpro.co.jp/en/product/howto/interdentalbrush.html

Baking soda alkalizes the mouth raising the PH level which kills the bacteria. You should be brushing with baking soda anyway to keep the mouth alkaline, especially if you have low saliva as often occurs as a side effect of many pharmaceutical drugs. But regular brushing with baking soda will not solve the gum infection. You have to use an interdental brush to get the baking soda underneath the gum line. So what you do is make a paste with baking soda and water and then apply to the interdental brush and get inside the gap between the teeth and the gums all around the entire mouth. Also when you brush your teeth normally with baking soda using a regular toothbrush you should brush at a 45 degree angle and brush down into the gum line as well, as a preventative to gum disease. 

He also said that a far more effective approach then using a regular toothbrush at a 45 degree angle is to use a sonic toothbrush as the vibrations cause superior gum penetration that is most effective and cleaning underneath the gum line:
http://www.sonicare.com/

He said that is all it takes, and I am doing all of this now and will let you know how it goes.

I also started using this new product called "My Magic Mud" which uses charcoal, bentonite clay and other things to absorb toxins and clean the teeth.  http://www.mymagicmud.com/ It is important to note that baking soda and My Magic Mud are used in place of toothpaste. That means that toothpaste is not used. Apparently toothpaste is very problematic and should not be used for a variety of reasons. An interesting online search might be something along the lines of "problems with toothpaste" or something similar.

And of course it is always a good idea to go in for a regular professional dental cleaning. Normally that is recommended every 6 months but I am going to go every 3 months to ensure I stay on top of this and keep my mouth healthy.

I will keep you posted on my progress!

PS: Here is an interesting video of my dental hygienist speaking with Dr. Mercola on dental hygiene:

Dr. Mercola Interviews Carol Vander Stoep about Dental Hygiene 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY7Ior5p960

Gary: And here is another Mercola article and video on the topiv of dentistry:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/02/24/invasive-dentistry-benefits.aspx

Note: the image of this man's hair tissue mineral analysis test arrived shortly after submitting this article for publication.

The elevated Fe/Cu ratio is confirmation of a chronic infection, most probably dental.

The high K relative to Na is indicative of being in the exhaustion stage of stress.

According to Dr David L. Watts, elevated tissue iron occurs during a chronic infection, most often dental abscess. The sequestering of excess, during infection, iron occurs in joints, as well as other tissues such as the spleen. 

Iron is pro-inflammatory when in excess in the body.

The inflammatory effects of excess iron in joints may cause non-traumatic inflammation, pain and - presumably - degeneration of the joint structures if left unchecked for long enough.

So, this person needs to concentrate on infection control and adrenal support, including taking a very long holiday in a secluded tropical resort with all of his cares catered for.

About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Candida and Fungal Infections? Gary Moller recommends you explore this programme: Click Here!

Another painful big toe - Turf Toe

I have been dealing with a painful great toe on my left foot for one year now. It started while I was rock climbing. I fell from a hand hold and stubbed my toe. Immediately, I knew I had an injury. I went to a podiatrist who gave me a shot of cortisone.

That helped and I thought I was cured. I went climbing again and within minutes I felt the same pain. I went back to the podiatrist and he put me on an anti-inflammatory. I decided to get a second opinion. I went to another podiatrist and he said I need orthotics. No relief, so I went to an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon. He told me to go to physical therapy and get a CAT scan. The physical therapy did not help. The CAT scan showed a bone bruise at the base of the great toe…which was almost 5 months after the accident date. The surgeon then told me to get a carbon fiber foot insert with a Morton's toe extension. I continued to deal with the pain and he gave me another cortisone shot…it did not help.

On January 1, 2010, I went snowboarding and fractured my left ankle. The surgeon said hopefully being in the cast will also help my toe to heal. I just had the cast removed two weeks ago and my toe is actually hurting even more. I just made an appointment for acupuncture to help with the pain management. The surgeon said he thinks only surgery will help me at this point and he is not a 100 percent sure it will help. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Gary:
As per usual, this is confirmation yet again that most of the fixes for this kind of sore toe end up failing many people miserably while costing somebody (often the tax payer) a whole lot of money.

I have developed chronic stiffness in both big toes

I'm 61 and over the past 2 years have developed chronic stiffness in both big toes after several days in a row of x-country skiing or jogging. Resting a week will certainly cure it, but what can I do without interfering with my exercise? Exercises? Stretches? It comes on slowly over the course of 2-3 days. Thank you.
William
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Gary Moller comments:

With regards to the big toes, the first thing you must do is gather some more information to share with me. Can you please send me some digital photos of your legs and feet in a standing position? Front on, rear and sideways please. Make sure that I can see your thighs as well as lower legs. Include a couple of closeups of the feet and lower legs. Thanks.

Can you complete the Active Elements assessment here. Do not neglect giving your health history and other relevant details in the comments box.

With age the rate of repair tends to slow while wear tends to accelerate; so it may be necessary to modify one's activities to take account of this. So this might mean placing deliberate rest days between any very active days.

You may also need to work more on the nutrition side of things beginning with the body's tissue salts (Active Elements) and providing cartilage substrate - glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM.

Joints require movement and it may be that they are getting a little stiff and tight. My video in the postings here shows what you should be doing. It is best to have another person do this on you as demonstrated in the video, rather than struggle on your own.

You might be surprised at the relief you can get by using a Formthotics Active Inner Sole in your boots and shoes.

Once you have sent the photos and completed the Active Elements assessment, we can arrange to discuss the findings and recommendations with Skype and the associated Bitwine service.

Talk to Gary Moller:

Hallux Rigidus - How can I avoid surgery?

"Hi Gary: I have a rather severe case of hallux rigidus. Surgery is the only thing, I am told, that can help it. Pain is unbearable at times….however, I run daily and while I am running there is not much pain at all. Devil’s Claw (Phyteuma) has been suggested…I really do not want to have surgery. The manipulation you suggest seems like excruciating pain….but I would be willing to try it if it meant not having surgery. I have worn very high heels the majority of my adult life which probably has contributed to the severity of this. Also, I fractured the ankle on the same foot several years ago and think I may have also injured the toe and not realized it at the time. What do you suggest?"
Cath

"Hi Gary,
I am a very serious runner and have this Hallux Rigidus. I have had it for a couple of years. it is pretty much the same as when it first became noticeable. There is some soreness and swelling around the toe joint so there has been some bone growth. I can still run but am interested in your thoughts about manipulating the toe and getting blood to flow around the area as a means of making it better. Please provide me with some more council/insight on this.
Regards"
Max
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Gary Moller comments:
Cath & Max,
Please read this earlier article if you have not already and search for related articles using the search functions on this website.
The pain of manipulation is intense. some would even say it is agonising; but it does work in most cases (I have not had a single failure yet). Without knowing the severity of your hallux rigidus, please bear in mind that you must make the final judgment as to what to do. If there is significant bone growth around the margins, this must be taken into account and worked around.

Here is what I would do:

• Start taking a quality supplement of glucosamine and chondroitin with MSM, plus 1-2,000mg of natural vitamin C and fish oil with natural vitamin E daily for several days before undertaking a course of manipulation by a trained therapist. These supplements are beneficial for joint health and have a natural anti inflammatory effect.
• Commence a course of manipulation having been prepared for considerable pain and discomfort over ensuing days.
• Repeat the manipulation every 4-5 days even if the toe is still tender.
• Take some additional MSM on the day of the manipulation and for a couple of days after along with the glucosamine, vitamin C etc.
• Repeat the manipulation every 4-5 days for at least 21 days by which time there should have been a significant improvement in function and reduction in pain.
• Make sure that all of your shoes have ample toe room and there is no slamming of the foot up against the shoe.
  
• Get about bare foot as much as possible and wear flexible shoes. Walk barefoot on grass and on sand at every opportunity.
• Get your toes pulled and feet massaged at regular intervals, especially if you are doing a lot of walking and running. This will prevent a recurrence.
  

Stiff Big Toe (Hallux Rigidus) in active people - runners and other athletes

The most common site of arthritis in the foot is at the base of the big toe. This joint is called the metatarsophalangeal, or MTP joint. It's important because it has to bend every time you take a step. If the joint starts to stiffen, walking can become painful and difficult.

In the MTP joint, as in any joint, the ends of the bones are covered by a smooth articular cartilage. If wear-and-tear or injury damage the articular cartilage, the raw bone ends can rub together. A bone spur, or overgrowth, may develop on the top of the bone. This overgrowth can prevent the toe from bending as much as it needs to when you walk. The result is a stiff big toe, or hallux rigidus.

Hallux rigidus usually develops in adults between the ages of 30 and 60 years. No one knows why it appears in some people and not others. It may result from an injury to the toe that damages the articular cartilage or from differences in foot anatomy that increase stress on the joint.

Signs and symptoms

* Pain in the joint when you are active, especially as you push-off on the toes when you walk
* Swelling around the joint
* A bump, like a bunion or callus, that develops on the top of the foot
* Stiffness in the great toe and an inability to bend it up or down

Diagnosing the problem
If you find it difficult to bend your toe up and down or find that you are walking on the outside of your foot because of pain in the toe, see your doctor right away. Hallux rigidus is easier to treat when the condition is caught early. If you wait until you see a bony bump on the top of your foot, the bone spurs will have already developed and the condition will be more difficult to treat.

Your physician will examine your foot and look for evidence of bone spurs. He or she may move the toe around to see how much motion is possible without pain. X-rays will show the location and size of any bone spurs, as well as the degree of degeneration in the joint space and cartilage.

Nonoperative treatment options
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen may help reduce the swelling and ease the pain. Applying ice packs or taking contrast baths (described below) may also help reduce inflammation and control symptoms for a short period of time. But they aren't enough to stop the condition from progressing. Wearing a shoe with a large toe box will reduce the pressure on the toe, and you will probably have to give up wearing high heels. Your doctor may recommend that you get a stiff-soled shoe with a rocker or roller bottom design and possibly even a steel shank or metal brace in the sole. This type of shoe supports the foot when you walk and reduces the amount of bend in the big toe.

A contrast bath uses alternating cold and hot water to reduce inflammation. You'll need two buckets, one with water as cold as you can tolerate and the other with water as warm as you can tolerate. Immerse your foot in the cold water for 30 seconds, then immediately place it in the hot water for 30 seconds. Continue to alternate between cold and hot for five minutes, ending in the cold water. You can do contrast baths up to three times a day. However, be careful to avoid extreme temperatures in the water, especially if your feet aren't very sensitive to heat or cold.
Source: American Academy of Orthopaedics
(This article then goes on to describe the surgical options)
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Gary Moller comments:
This article is pretty typical of the advice given for arthritic toe conditions. For the athlete, the advice is inadequate, does not get to the heart of the cause and does not offer lasting solutions.

Sore toe joints is a common complaint in active people. It can come about as the result of a joint sprain or dislocation, such as happens when kicking or when the foot is trampled by a sprigged boot. It can also happen as the result of excessive repetitive repetitive stepping back and forth such as when doing Tae-Bo fitness classes. Accidentally stubbing the toe on a piece of furniture is another painful cause.

Joints require movement to be healthy. Without movement, the joint tissues are poorly nourished and they may consequently degenerate, causing a painful arthritic condition. If there has been damage to joint ligaments, such from a dislocation, the scar repair that binds the healing joint shrinks over time. If this is not stretched and mobilised during the healing process, the joint may be bound painfully together. Scar tissue shrinks over time and must be stretched and softened to ensure there is the restoration of normal function.

Wearing shoes all the time can contribute to the development of a painful rigid toe by restricting the natural movements of the feet. Feet, including the toes, are designed to be flexed and extended all the time to be strong and healthy. Shoes are no good for the feet if worn all the time. Lack of natural movement lays the feet open to the development of arthritis.

If you hurt a toe
So long as it is not broken, immobilise it for no longer than about 2 days. Using the healthy toe on the other foot as your guide, gradually work within pain limits to restore normal movement over several days. This should include careful traction to gap the joints.

If you have developed a rigid arthritic toe
This is where the fun begins and where I come into action! Forget about the injections, ultrasound, ice and surgery: By far the most effective way to fix an arthritic toe in an athlete is manipulation without anaesthesia. This can be extremely painful for the affected person. One woman described the pain as being more intense than child birth!

The purpose of the manipulation is to gap the joint that is bound tightly together by scar and unhealthy fibrous tissue, to break up any restrictive adhesions and calcification and to get some circulation back into the joint tissues.

There is no need for pain relief or anti-inflammatories. It may be a good idea to take some glucosamine and chondroitin and MSM to aid the healing.

While this procedure is agonising, the result after just 3-4 sessions is dramatic pain relief and full resumption of normal activity. Over the years, the results have been 100%

Ongoing maintenance of recovery includes getting about daily barefoot. Running and walking on sand is best for keeping the feet strong and healthy.

Please read my other articles about this painful and disabling condition (hallux rigidus).

If you have a problem with a stiff and painful toe, contact me directly.