What can be done for the condition?
Many cases of sesamoiditis can heal completely with careful treatment. There are two methods for treating sesamoid problems, nonsurgical treatment and surgery. Surgery is most often used as a last resort, when other forms of treatment aren't helping.
Non-surgical Rehabilitation
Although each patient recovers at a different rate, as a general rule, our patients with sesamoid problems typically undergo four to six Physical Therapy treatments. Your Physical Therapist can offer ideas of pads or cushions that help take pressure off the sesamoid bones. We may recommend that special padding in the shape of a J can be placed inside your shoe to ease pressure on the sesamoids as you stand and walk. You may need to limit the amount of weight placed on your foot when you're up and about. Shoes with low heels may also ease the pressure. Your doctor may also recommend supplementing rehabilitation with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
Our Physical Therapist may apply treatments to the painful area to help control pain and swelling, such as ultrasound, moist heat, and soft-tissue massage. Our Physical Therapy sessions sometimes include iontophoresis, which uses a mild electrical current to push anti-inflammatory drugs, prescribed by your doctor, into the sore area.
If simple modifications are made to your shoes you may be allowed to resume normal walking immediately, but you should probably cut back on more vigorous activities for several weeks to allow the inflammation and pain to subside. If we must use more aggressive treatment during your recovery, you may be required to use crutches for several weeks to keep weight off the foot.
Post-surgical Rehabilitation
After a surgical procedure to shave or remove bone, patients are generally placed in either a rigid-soled shoe or a cast for two to three weeks. We will help you learn to properly use crutches to limit the weight that you put on your foot during the early stages of your recovery.
Treatment is more cautious after bone graft surgery. Patients usually wear a cast for up to four weeks. Then they wear a short walking cast for another two months, at which time active exercises can start.
The Physical Therapists at Excel Rehabilitation Services, LLC can develop a personalized Physical Therapy program to help speed your rehabilitation. When your recovery is well under way, regular visits to Excel Rehabilitation Services, LLC will end. Although we will continue to be a resource, you will eventually be in charge of doing your exercises as part of an ongoing home program.
Excel Rehabilitation Services, LLC provides services for Physical Therapy in Gonzales.