MTP Joint Pain: Causes and Treatment Options

About 15 million people in the United States are living with joint pain. This breaks down into one out of four adults. This ranges from mild to excruciating and can become more severe as a person ages.

Learning about MTP joint pain can help you get these issues under control so that you know what you’re facing and find the pain treatment that you need. Keep reading to learn more.

What Is MTP Joint Pain?

Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint pain refers to damage in the joints that connect your toes with the bones and ligaments in your foot. It’s localized to the spaces between your toes and can be exacerbated based on overexertion and everyday life situations.

These joints bear a lot of weight whenever you walk around and can be made worse due to shoes that don’t fit or distributing your weight unevenly.

There are a few different conditions that can cause MTP joint pain, including:

• Turf toe
• Chronic arthritis
• Gout
• Bunions
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis

Get a diagnosis from a doctor if you find yourself dealing with foot pain, toe pain, or other foot problems. From there, you can figure out some solutions.

Fix Your Diet

So much of what we eat plays a role in our bodily condition. When you clean up your diet, it’s easier to prevent swelling and inflammation, which can help you keep pain problems at bay.

Many doctors are advising their patients to adopt a plant-based diet because plants help to keep your body from becoming inflamed. Here are some of the best foods that you can eat to prevent inflammation:

• Blackberries blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries
• Avocados
• Leafy green vegetables, like kale, spinach, and chard
• Chlorella and spirulina
• Bananas, cucumbers, and beets
• Lentils, quinoa, and millet
• Citrus fruits, like oranges and grapefruits

Do your due diligence in putting together your diet so you’re stocking up on foods that can help keep your arthritis at bay. Something as small as a fruit and vegetable smoothie every day can go a long way.

Removing animal products from your diet will also help. There are plenty of delicious plant-based foods that you can add to your lunch and dinner menu that are big on nutrients without sacrificing on taste.

Get Physical Therapy

Physical therapy will help you build the muscles and joints in your feet and toes. It increases mobility and helps you reduce pain and discomfort. A physical therapy will put you through sessions three to four times per week, while tracking your pain and progress.

Along with physical therapy, you might look into supplements like Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) that’ll help you out. But, what is DMSO and how can it help?

It’s a type of compound that you can ingest orally or through injection. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can help you get rid of pain and discomfort of all types. Many people use this to nip arthritis in the bud.

Ice and Heat

Cycle between hot and cold treatments to help heal your joints. Ice or cold packs will decrease swelling so that you’re in less discomfort. Heating pads will increase blood flow to further the healing and relax your muscles and joints.

Make sure to get plenty of rest, purchase shoes that fit, and stabilize your toes using athlete’s tape or a brace whenever you can.

Take Care of Your MTP Joint Pain

Handling your MTP joint pain will let you get your quality of life back in order. It’s an issue that you need to manage to the best of your ability. Reach out to professionals that can further your healing so that you feel better and age gracefully.

Begin with these points and rely on us when you’d like to learn more about dealing with physical pain and discomfort.