So, I seem to be a collection of strange things that are happening to my body. I have had shoulder surgery, joint replacements in four of my fingers, a hiatus hernia, Dysphagia – long before Parkies diagnosis – a meniscus injury in my knee and fatty liver. On top of that we have good ‘ol Parkies.
Recently, I was sitting at my desk doing something on my computer when I noticed a strange thing happening. I started to get cramp, not in my foot, but just in the third toe of my right foot. It suddenly stiffened up, stuck out straight and then veered weirdly to the right and stayed like that for a while. It was the weirdest thing and very painful! I wasn’t sure what was the cause of it but thought I would put a question on an Australian and New Zealand Parkinson’s support group page.
Here’s some comments I received.
“It’s called dystonia and it’s a pd thing. Let your neurologist know”
“Short answer is, YEP!”
“A regular occurrence for me my big toe sits straight up. Cannot do it voluntarily”
And then, this kind of ‘worst case scenario’ comment:
“Sue, if it ever gets really bad, the Dystonia that is, there is a corrective surgery that can be done on your toe – or toes – by a Podiatric Surgeon.
My wife has had the surgery and that certainly fixed the issue and the associated problem of the toe pressing against the top of her shoes and causing really painful corns that required podiatry care every two weeks!!!
It was either surgery or cutting holes in the tops of her shoes – something she was reluctant to do 
So, just tuck that bit of information away for future information.
Surgery is called Arthroplasty.
From our noted medical advisor Dr Google:
In this procedure, the surgeon removes part of one of the toe bones, the phalangeal head, so that the toe can lie flat. The affected tendons are cut and then reattached to conform to the new, correct toe position.
Simple actually
“
So, there you are. Another gift from the condition that just keeps on giving! I haven’t had it happen since that one time, so not in a rush to get hold of my Neurologist. A couple of things make me hesitate. No. 1 – that he might suggest more medications. At present I feel that I am on enough meds for one thing or another.. No.2 – the fact that it is on my ‘good’ side is a bit concerning. I just hope this wayward digit is not an indicator of progression.
I’ll keep a watch on myself though and if it happens again more than once – I have to give myself a bit of a criteria, so I don’t rush off to the Neurologist – I will consider contacting the Parkinson’s Nurse for advice as a first step.
In the meantime I hope my toes behave themselves!
My journey with Parkinsons 