based on your experience, is it possible to use your massage therapy technique to help/cure hallux rigidus even when a bone spur has grown?
regards,
Max ___________________________________ Gary Moller responds:
Max, Without seeing X-rays, it would be difficult to give a definite yes or no to your question.
However there should not be a problem: The idea is to traction the affected joint so that the ligaments are stretched and the joint gapped. The joint is then skillfully glided and rotated back and forth. There may be a little grinding of the joint margins which will be painful but the bulk of the joint will be completely unaffected. An experienced massage therapist will know how to go carefully and progressively and to gauge just how much pain is to be caused.
Each session should begin and end with massage of the whole foot and even the legs. Yes, there will be residual pain for a few days after but this should diminish with each weekly session. Take glucosamine and chondroitin at the maximum doses while undergoing this therapy.
Do you have a question? Email Gary: gary at myotec.co.nz (Replace the "at" with @ and remove spaces). Please include any relevant background information to your question.
"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 __________________________ 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.
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.
