I've had a sore tendon on my right toe on and off for about 2 years now (from windsurfing) and have found wearing thongs somewhat painful as occassionally just walking along my tendon on the top of the toe feels like it's clicking / popping. So yesterday I was on my last broad reach really pushing it when I felt the toe / tendon pop. I had my toes curled up locking me into the straps. Whilst I can walk on it gingerly I'm unsure if anyone else has had a similar injury and what sort of rehab you can do for a big toe.

Any advice appreciated (apart from a spoonful of cement) as I need my big toe to sail with.

PS - I don't sail in my thongs either.

Go to an ortho surgeon. There may be some tendon repair needed. I had something similar with my thumb. put up with the aches for over a year before I finally had enough. Got refered to an ortho and got sorted out within a few months. Hand it perfectly fine now.

At least go for a consult.

Thanks for the valuable feedback guys. I don't think it has detached although it does cause considerable pain curling the toe up. Curling down is fine it's only up that hurts. Have rubbed voltaren in and will check out that cream too. Just really curious if any other sailors have experienced this injury as we do tend to really curl our toes up when sailing extremes - (ocean sailing for me all of the time)

Will give it a week before getting referral. I spent the better half of 2003 having a 100% rupture of my patella tendon reattached - my patella was wired to my tibia so the tendon could repair itself.

Thanks Choco - I'll ask my veterinarian Father-in-law whether he'll need to get me shod and my mane clipped if I use it.

Anyone tried Thermalife. It has that Arnica compound that GWilko mentioned in his post. http://www.thermalife.com.au/product/thermalife-active-gel/

John340 said..

Snags, you should probably look at the underlying cause. Can you adjust your foot straps so you don't have to curl your toes so much?

John,
I might tighten them fractionally but as I sail open ocean I don't have much option but to curl my toes up to keep me connected to the board. I don't believe I'd last too long sailing broad through waves and chop with my front foot relaxed and toes flat. Unless I can nail my feet to the board there's not a lot of options keeping it all tight and connected to the board.

I used to have my straps really tight too but found I ended up damaging my feet as it was like wearing undersized shoes and going for a run. They're definitely not loose like wave sailors have them either - I can't figure out why they do this as the chances of breaking an ankle are magnified getting your whole foot and ankle jammed up into the strap.

On the toe front I have been icing the top of foot and big toe and applying voltaren (and haven't sailed since Sunday but only because I don't have a harness hook) and stretching it up against a wall. Still sore but much better than 3 days ago.