Sesamoiditis & Sesamoid Tendonitis
What Is Sesamoiditis?
Sesamoiditis is a general medical term used to describe any kind of injury that causes irritation in and around the sesamoid bones. This includes tendonitis (inflammation in the tendon tissue) surrounding the sesamoid bones and any kind of fracture or damage to the bone as well. Sesamoiditis may cause pain and inflammation in the sesamoid tendons that surround the sesamoid bones. This inflammation can spread further into more tendons and ligaments of the ball of the foot if not dealt with quickly.
Overall, this condition will make it extremely painful to walk, as fresh waves of pain can be felt every time the big toe moves or is stressed while walking or doing any other sort of activity. To reduce pressure on the big toe while walking, most people will try to walk while applying their weight only on the heel of their foot and turn the affected leg out to one side - creating a shuffling / limping type of movement.
Long-term changes in your gait (the way you walk) - such as shuffling to reduce pain on the ball of your foot - can impact other areas of your body and possibly result in something called 'over compensation pain'.
Symptoms of Sesamoid Tendonitis
If you are suffering from sesamoiditis, you may experience one of more of the following:
- Pain that will come and go in the ball of the foot just beneath your big toe joint.
- A gradual onset of pain over time if you're still continuing on with the activity that has caused and/or worsens this condition.
- There may not be a visible sign that you even have sesamoiditis - swelling of the ball of the foot and bruising may or may not be present.
- Pain that increases when your big toe is stretched up (when your toes push off at the end of a step).
- Limited range of motion in your big toe, especially when straightening it out.
- Moderate or severe cases of sesamoiditis may result in a catching or popping of the big toe followed by increased pain.
- Most people with sesamoiditis may notice the pain decrease as soon as the activity that caused the injury is reduced or stopped.
- You're suffering from pain with no clear sign of an injury (no redness under your foot, bruising or swelling).
If any of the above statements are true for you or you're suffering from on-going pain under your big toe or at the front of your foot then you might have an injury called "Sesamoiditis". It's an injury that's not commonly heard - people are more likely to understand that they might have plantar fasciitis, tendonitis or some other injury in their foot.
If you have it, you know that sesamoiditis is a very painful injury affecting the soft tissue and bone in the ball of your foot. It happens mostly to those who regularly puts significant, recurring pressure on the front of their foot.
Sesamoiditis is one of those injuries that can really bring down the quality of your life. Anyone - young or old - can suffer from this injury, and if you're active this condition will keep you from doing the things you love to do. It will even start interrupting any of your normal daily tasks and make living life harder than it really needs to be.
What Causes Sesamoiditis?
Sesamoiditis can happen when you increase the pressure on the ball of your foot in activities like running, playing basketball, football, golf, tennis, taking a step class or ballet lessons. In activities like running, more than half of our weight-bearing travels through our big toe and sesamoid bones (reference: 1).
Any changes to the structure of your foot can also lead to sesamoiditis. This would include if you already have high arches, wear high-heeled shoes regularly, wear a new pair of shoes that don't give your toes enough room, naturally run or walk on the balls of your feet or have bony feet without enough fat to cushion your sesamoid bones.
Sesamoiditis is an overuse injury caused by the same toe movements that are performed over and over again.
How Is Sesamoid Tendonitis Diagnosed?
The best way to diagnose this condition is with a quick visit to the your doctor for a physical examination of your foot. The doctor will be looking for tenderness at the sesamoid bones just below your big toe.
Are you having trouble bending and straightening your toe?
Range of motion movements / tests, will be done to see how much movement has been lost in the toe. Your foot might hurt from the doctor poking and prodding at it, but by doing this the doctor will know for sure the source of your pain, the level of tenderness in and around your sesamoids and how well your toe can move with this condition.
Your doctor may also consider any previous foot injuries or joint stiffness that you may have had in the past. This will help the doctor to determine if you have a more complex injury in your foot and rule out any other foot injuries that may be present.
An x-ray of the foot will ensure proper diagnosis, sometimes they will x-ray both feet looking for similarities in bone structure when comparing both of your feet. This x-ray will show your sesamoid bones and whether there is any separation in each bone. For approximately 10 to 30% of people the sesamoid bone closer to the middle of the foot (the medial sesamoid) will be naturally divided into 2 or more pieces (reference: 1, 2, 3).
The doctor will have to find out if you naturally have a divided sesamoid bone OR if you have a fracture in this bone. If you do have any evidence of separation it's likely your doctor will have to perform more tests to find out for sure if you have a fracture in these bones.
Usually if the x-ray shows the bone is jagged there may be a fracture in the sesamoid bone, and if the separation is smooth then this means you have a naturally separated sesamoid bone.
Other tests like a bone scan, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or blood tests may be done if an x-ray looks normal or the doctor is unsure whether you have a fracture or natural separation in your sesamoid. These tests will also rule out any infections of the bone or tissue and help to determine if you are suffering from other injuries around your sesamoids - like arthritis or gout.
A 'sesamoid' bone is a bone that's not connected to any other bone. Sesamoids are connected to tendons or embedded in muscles. We have many sesamoids in the body - your knee cap being the largest sesamoid bone. They are also found in our hands and feet, and the sesamoid bones in the foot are where the most common sesamoiditis problems occur.
Sesamoids in the foot have three jobs, first they help the big toe move (providing a smooth surface for the tendons controlling your big toe to move) . Second, they provide you the leverage your need when you 'push off' with your foot (they act like pulleys helping to move other tissue that control your big toe). And third, they absorb the weight placed on the ball of your foot when you walk, run or jump.
Do You Really have Sesamoiditis?
Our feet are some of the most complicated joints in our bodies with 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments. Due to this, there are often a variety of ailments in the foot that can cause similar symptoms. Some ailments can be extremely serious, so if you are experiencing persistent foot pain, please visit your physician and get a diagnosis.
Big toe pain can be from injuries to the sesamoid bones or the soft tissue in the foot, some of the more common injuries being:
- Foot bursitis - Bursitis can occur in the toe joints, the side of the foot, the heel and around the ankle. As we walk, run or jump, the ground surface and the shoes we wear play an important role in how much trauma our feet experience. Every step can cause a small amount of damage to a particular area in the foot which can increase the risk of bursitis.
- Morton's neuroma - This condition usually causes burning pain in the ball of the foot that may radiate into the toes. The pain generally intensifies with activity or wearing shoes. You may sometimes feel that you are "walking on a marble," and you have persistent pain in the ball of your foot. You may also have numbness in the toes. Neuroma is often the misdiagnosis of plantar plate tears the two conditions have similar symptoms.
- Metatarsalgia - This condition can also cause pain in the ball of your foot, that area between your arch and the toes. Metatarsalgia is a common over-use injury, persistent stress can lead to chronic irritation and inflammation of the bone covering and surrounding tissues, such as ligaments and tendons.
- Plantar Fasciitis - Pain associated with plantar fasciitis normally starts as a dull ache and then progresses to a sharp, knife-like pain or constant throbbing feeling that is worse when you put weight on your foot. The most tender areas tend to be in the center of your heel and along the inside and bottom of your foot towards your toes, where your heel and arch meet.
- Turf toe - This can happen when the big toe joint is pushed beyond its' normal range (backwards or downwards). A 'pop' is felt at the moment the injury happens followed by sharp immediate pain. Symptoms include swelling in the foot, the entire big toe joint is affected and limits the motion in the toe.
Sesamoid Tendonitis
Sesamoid tendonitis (sometimes spelled tendinitis and pronounced 'tendinitus') is irritation and/or inflammation of the tendons surrounding the sesamoid bones. You will feel this irritation and/or inflammation when there is a strain, damage or micro-tearing in the tendon tissue.
Anyone can suffer from sesamoid tendinitis - for younger people it usually happens from repetitive movement of the toe in athletic activities like baseball and ballet. In adults, this injury can happen from over-use OR degeneration of the tissue as we age.
You could have different types of sesamoid tendonitis including:
- Tendinosis - a condition caused by chronic degeneration (wearing away) of the tendon fibers over time.
- Tendinopathy - chronic inflammation of the sesamoid tendon(s) that results from many small tears over from from over-use or repetitive movements.
- Tenosynovitis - damage or micro-tearing to the sheath covering the sesamoid tendon(s).
It's possible to have tendonitis / tendinosis / tendinopathy AND tenosynovitis at the same time, creating a more complicated sesamoid tendon injury. In all these cases, however, you can treat these very effectively at home with a Sesamoid/Wrist Cold Compress or Ice Pack and Sesamoid/Wrist TShellz Wrap®.
Sesamoid Bone Fracture
A sesamoid bone fracture causes many of the same symptoms as sesamoid tendonitis - with pain, irritation and/or inflammation in the ball of the foot. Unlike sesamoid tendonitis, an acute or traumatic sesamoid bone fracture can result in a lot of swelling in the front of your foot and possibly a bruise under the big toe. Your doctor will be able to tell if you have a sesamoid bone fracture by performing an x-ray.
There are 2 types of sesamoid bone fractures:
- Acute ("Regular") Fracture - is caused by a direct blow or impact to the bone - like landing heavily on your feet from a fall / jump. An acute sesamoid fracture produces immediate pain and swelling at the site of the break, but usually does not affect the entire big toe joint.
With a "regular" fracture the entire material of bone, including the outer lining of the bone (sometimes called the 'cortical') will crack. This fracture can be straight, diagonal, jagged, in several pieces, etc. - Chronic ("Stress") Fracture - is a hairline break usually caused by repetitive stress or overuse - like running regularly or jumping up and down from platforms all day. A chronic sesamoid fracture produces longstanding pain in the ball of the foot beneath the big toe joint. The pain, which tends to come and go, generally is aggravated with activity and relieved with rest.
With a "stress" fracture the outer lining of the bone will be fine, but the inside of the bone will have hairline fractures (sometimes on a microscopic level).
"Stress" or chronic fractures usually take much longer to heal because they will often remain in a long-term state of non-healing. Treatment for both kinds of sesamoid bone fractures is basically the same as treatment for sesamoid tendonitis.
What if I Don't Have Sesamoid Tendonitis or a Sesamoid Fracture?
There are 3 more injuries that can happen in or around your sesamoid bones resulting in sesamoiditis pain:
- Intractable Plantar Keratosis (IPK) - this is like a callus or corn that's formed on the ball of your foot under your big toe that can cause sesamoiditis-like pain. Over time this callus / corn can develop into a larger lesion with a very painful sore-spot in the center.
If left untreated, this condition can lead to a more serious sesamoiditis injury, reduce range of motion / mobility of your foot and change the way you walk on your foot. Conservative treatment methods are used to treat this injury. Surgery is only ever recommended if you continue to feel pain and have reduced range of motion even after using conservative treatment methods. - Osteochondritis (Avascular Necrosis) of the Sesamoid Bone(s) - This is a condition where blood supply to 1 or both of your sesamoid bones isn't available. Over time reduced blood flow to your sesamoid bone can actually cause a portion of your bone to die (this is also called 'necrosis'). Your body will try to heal this injury by building up extra calcium (bone) around the dead spot.
This can sometimes happen if you've suffered from a chronic ("stress") fracture in your sesamoid bone that hasn't healed properly. In most cases conservative treatment methods won't work to treat this condition and surgery will be needed to remove the sesamoid bone (reference: 1, 2). If surgery is required, conservative treatment methods can then be used during post-surgery rehabilitation. - Nerve Entrapment - There is a major nerve that runs near our big toe and second toe called the 'Medial Plantar Nerve'. Even though this nerve is usually not close to the sesamoid bones, nerves can sometimes naturally be in areas where doctors don't expect them to be. It's possible to be suffering from sesamoid pain, with the pain really coming from your medial plantar nerve if it's running under one of your sesamoid bones. If you've had an x-ray and multiple tests done to see if you have sesamoiditis or a sesamoid bone fracture and there is no definite result, you might be suffering from nerve entrapment in that area.
Your doctor can see if you have nerve entrapment in this area by doing a test called 'Tinel's Sign'. During this test the doctor will lightly tap near the painful area to see if you feel any tingling or 'pins and needles' sensations. If you feel tingling that runs down your big toe, you might be suffering from nerve entrapment (reference: 1). - Sesamoid Arthritis - Sometimes you may have cartilage damage under your sesamoid bones between your sesamoids and the bones in your toes. This cartilage damage can lead to arthritis, a painful inflammatory condition causing stiffness and swelling in your joints. You could have sesamoid pain that is really a case of arthritis under your sesamoid bones. Any signs of arthritis around your sesamoid bones should show up in an x-ray.
Scar Tissue & Fibrotic Adhesions
All connective tissue is living tissue; tissue requires a blood supply and is continually in a state of regeneration. Any and all connective tissue has the potential for injury and inflammation. Injuries can be small such as in the case of a strain, or injuries can be large tears or even avulsions (complete tearing). Once an injury is experienced, the area will experience both inflammation and the growth of scar tissue (otherwise known as adhesions).
The occurrence of scar tissue is a regular part of life. Scar tissue forms as part of the progression after injury occurs. Scar tissue essentially 'fills in the gaps' after a cut, tear or wound presents itself in the body. Scar tissue is composed of the protein, collagen; it is widely known in the medical community that scar tissue is weaker and less flexible than original tissue.
- Normal/original connective tissue is made up of collagen, but this collagen is aligned in a specific direction with each strand in alignment. This results in the connective tissue having a strong tensile strength while also having excellent flexibility and extensibility.
- Scar tissue is made up of a 'criss cross/ random' formation of collagen and attaches to everything in the area. You can likely imagine the result of a patch of scar tissue; the effect is similar to pouring extremely sticky glue in your hair. It interrupts everything and is disruptive to the function of the connective tissue. The caveat is that the scar tissue does its job - it binds tears together. You definitely want the tear to heal, but it is important to ensure the scar tissue goes away despite the fact that it does not go away easily.
- After scar tissue forms, although the wound or cut is now closed (and less prone to infection), the area of tissue itself is inferior in functionality to what it replaced.
Continuous re-injury and build-up of scar tissue makes it more likely that you will wind up with chronic pain, reduced Range of Motion or even arthritis (permanent damage).
Heal Quickly to Minimize Scar Tissue Growth & Reduce Re-Injury Risk
The human body will use scar tissue as a temporary solution and will try to build the scar tissue as fast as possible to heal tears in soft tissue (muscles, tendons). Scar tissue can form fast to bring together the edges of a tear, but working fast doesn't mean that the job's done right. When scar tissue forms it doesn't come together as neatly as regular (healthy) tendon/ligament tissue would. Scar tissue fibers will lay down over top of your tear in a cluttered, messy and jumbled up way.
This is how scar tissue works - it is messy and inelastic. The scar tissue that forms in your soft tissue will be unorganized and won't line up properly with the healthy tissue surrounding the tear. This scar tissue will attach to everything in and around the tear including the surrounding healthy tissue as well. This results in a long-term fusing together of everything the scar tissue touches, reducing your ability to move and making the injury even more painful!
For soft tissue injuries (tendons, muscles, ligaments, fascia), it is important to heal quickly and completely; this will help minimize the build up of scar tissue. If you don't, your tissue injury may be the start of a long term chronic injury resulting in a loss of Range of Motion and joint atrophy.
The longer a soft tissue injury remains, the more scar tissue is likely to build up in and around the injury location. This is why it is critical to treat your injury quickly without delay. Continuous re-injury and build-up of scar tissue while staying active or going back to work means you will experience a greater risk of winding up with on-going, chronic foot pain and overcompensation injuries to the hips, knee(s), and or back.
How Do I Fix My Sesamoiditis?
If you suspect you have sesamoiditis,
- Usually conservative treatment methods are all that's needed to treat sesamoiditis, surgery is only ever used if long-term conservative treatment methods don't work or if you've suffered from a stubborn stress (chronic) sesamoid bone fracture. Conservative treatment options for sesamoiditis typically includes rest, icing of the injury, avoiding activities that cause or worsen the pain that you're feeling, wearing comfortable shoes that keep your big toe straight and anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medication (reference: [1],[2],[3],[4],[5]).
- Second, if your doctor has decided that your injury can be treated with conservative treatment options, then you'll find that many of our customers have had great success treating themselves with our powerful conservative treatment products - the Cold Compress or Ice Pack and TShellz Wrap®.
- Or, if surgical intervention is required, talk with your doctor about using these same products for post-surgery recovery as you'll find them to be effective for reducing post-surgery inflammation, enhancing range of motion and reducing scar tissue growth.
No one is immune to sesamoiditis or tendonitis, but you can easily reduce your risk of further injury with consistent conservative treatments
The good news is that most cases of sesamoiditis can be cured using conservative treatments. Surgery is typically performed only as a last resort. Once you have undergone a course of conservative treatments recommended by your doctor for at least 3 months or more and have shown no improvement, they may consider it but it each case is unique to the individual.
It's generally understood by doctors and surgeons, that surgery will introduce more scar tissue into the foot. This added scar tissue will be problematic, requiring PT and conservative treatment options post-surgery. When it comes to sesamoiditis and bone fractures there's only a few surgical options for treatment - removal of the sesamoid bone(s), scraping of the sesamoid bone(s) or a bone graft. This is why surgery is only performed as a last resort for chronic sesamoiditis injuries or a fractured bone that won't heal with conservative treatment methods.
Some conservative treatment methods recommended include:
- Rest - This is important for initial recovery; rest and elevation will help reduce pain, swelling and inflammation in the early stages of injury. Too much rest can also be harmful however, as joint immobility can actually cause stiffening, overcompensation and atrophy (wasting away of soft tissue). This is why rest should be used when reducing initial pain and swelling, but should not be considered for more long-term conservative treatment.
- Avoid Activities that Caused Your Foot Problem - While resting your foot it's also important to avoid all activities that may have caused or exacerbated the problem (especially any strenuous or repetitive movement). Continuing on with such activities will likely increase the severity of your injury (ie. wearing high heels or poor fitting footwear), turning a mild to moderate case of tissue damage into a downward spiral of worsening damage that may eventually severely impact your life. Also, trying to 'work around' your injury will eventually give rise to over-compensation injuries in other areas of your body (like your opposite foot, or hip & knee pain due to your limping gait).
- Use a Cold Compress or Ice Pack - Cold is very effective at reducing pain and inflammation - use at the onset of the injury and during flareups. Immediate pain relief and reduced inflammation can also relieve some of the pressure that's being placed on an area although cold can also shorten connective tissue, causing more tension and friction in the area. Generally, use cold when there is swelling but stop if you notice pain levels rising.
- Use a Sesamoid TShellz® Circulatory Boost Wrap (Circulatory Boost device)- Once swelling has been reduced, you can use your own blood flow to maximize your rehabilitation. Improved blood flow and increased warmth to your foot in most cases will help improve recovery time while improving overall health of soft tissue in the area. Promoting blood flow and heat to the treatment area will help to minimize the growth of scar tissue, increase flexibility and reduce risk of further atrophy. The Sesamoid TShellz® Circulatory Boost Wrap can be applied to the top, sides or bottom of the foot. For treating the back of the foot or heel, we would recommend an Achilles TShellz Wrap®; for plantar specific treatment, a Plantar TShellz Wrap® is recommended.
- Use a Support Wrap or Brace (depending on the area) - to increase comfort and prevent further damage you may want to use a support sleeve or brace to help support the area, reduce risk of further injury and reduce stress on the injured tissue. They can be used until your injury is gone or during active sports for additional stability. Note that these should not be worn at all times as they can limit muscle development, cut off circulation and impede healing of muscle tissue.
- For reducing discomfort while resting, (or to get some sleep) consider a High Quality Back Pillow and/or Knee Pillow for comfort while sleeping or sitting
- Rehabilitative stretching under supervision of a PT or doctor. The intent of this is to provide you with increased range of motion, pain relief and strengthening of the surrounding tissue of the joint. Caution: aggressive stretching or massage can be harmful - when dealing with a joint that has very limited range of motion, there is risk of further damage to weak connective tissue. This could lead to the need for surgery, and this is why you need to seek out a PT or physician as they can determine safe stretching parameters for you.
- Stretching - Stretching your joint in PT and at home will help you to regain your range of motion much faster than not stretching at all. Stretching in many ways is key for maintaining good Range of Motion (ROM) in your foot, and stretching can be made much easier with use of a TShellz Wrap® before to warm up soft tissue, and a Cold Compress or Ice Pack treatment after to deal with flare-ups of inflammation.
The TShellz® Circulatory Boost Wrap & Why You Need It
Building strong healthy tissue is part of the healing process and needs to be dealt with asap to minimize your chance of re-injury or overcompensation injuries. You can help your tendonitis injury during this healing process by maximizing blood flow in the area via use of a Sesamoid TShellz Wrap®.
The TShellz Wrap® is based upon LEC Response®, which stands for Localized Enhanced Circulatory Response®. We adopted this technology when we brought the TShellz to market several years ago, following a period of testing along with continuous improvement. The goal of a Localized Enhanced Circulatory Response® Treatment is to effectively stimulate localized blood flow in and around injured soft tissues. The vasodilation effect increases blood flow by reducing vascular resistance within targeted tissues in the treatment area. This provides soft tissue with much needed oxygen and nutrients to augment the recovery process and to help you live life with less pain, more mobility, and reduced risk of re-injury (by enhancing the flexibility of tissues).
Increasing blood flow while maintaining or increasing tissue flexibility becomes the priority to bring in all the essential elements needed for natural healing within your own body. An increased blood flow is key as this maximizes the bodys' ability to self heal. An increase in blood flow accompanied with heat in soft tissue is known to help increase range of motion, and improve the flexibility of soft tissue - ensuring that the soft tissue recovery period does not last years.
We believe the use of TShellz Wraps® for boosting blood flow in the area of application is one of the most under-utilized home treatment options available on the market today. We have client after client that have tried many options out there and have been amazed at how effective and fast the TShellz Wrap treatment can relieve pain and get you on the road to a quick recovery.
The intent of TShellz Wraps are to significantly increase bloodflow to tissue in the treatment area - period. With regular use of the Sesamoid TShellz Wrap:
- Foot pain will be reduced*.
- With increased blood flow, soft tissue will recover at an accelerated rate*.
- Due to increased warmth in soft tissue, the corresponding joint will have a larger range of motion and increased extensibility of collagen tissue*. This should translate into a reduced rate of injury occurrence as soft tissue becomes more flexible.
(*Chapter 9 of "Therapeutic Heat and Cold", 4th edition. (amazon.com link - Ed. Justus F. Lehmann, M.D., Williams, and Wilkin)
Attach the TShellz Wrap® around your foot, plug it in and let the Energy Pad do the work!
*Know that every personal soft tissue injury is unique and the TShellz Wrap may not work for everyone. This is why we offer a 60-day money back return on all our TShellz Wrap devices. Our high quality wraps are registered with the FDA as medical devices which meet high manufacturing standards.
A TShellz Wrap® application is intended to produce the following results:
Enhance blood circulation and
increase the levels of oxygen within your blood.
This, in turn, improves function of the immune system which increases the body's ability to eliminate toxins and other waste by-products resulting from damaged tissue at the injury location. This allows the body to more easily stimulate the self healing process.
Stimulate the production of collagen - a building block for human tissue.
Many soft tissue injuries are the result of trauma to a tendon or muscle, usually causing the tissue to tear. As a result of the tear, your body triggers a natural healing process resulting in pain, inflammation, and the creation of scar tissue, then eventually reinforcing that band-aid solution with flexible tissue (proliferation). Increased blood flow will make this process more quick and efficient in the majority of cases.
Enhance the extensibility of soft tissue.
It is generally accepted that heat will enhance both the flexibility and the extensibility of soft tissue. This is an important point. Many people with achilles, knee and back conditions (to name a few of many) often experience re-injury due to the fact the damaged muscle or soft tissue is tight and the range of motion is restricted. Even the most minor of activities can cause recovering tissue to strain, sprain, or even tear. Every time this happens, your recovery is delayed. This is why using the TShellz Wrap® not only now, but also into the future, is wise. The TShellz Wrap® warms tissue, and thereby increases it's elasticity...all without risk of causing further harm - greatly reducing your chances of re-injury.
It is also intended to provide relief to some who are dealing with nerve related issues.
TShellz Wraps® applied to muscles and soft tissue that surround the nerves should help them become more loose, as heat is known to increase the flexibility and extensibility of soft tissue. You may find this will alleviate tightness which may have led to nerve compression and the subsequent pain it produces.
Intended to reduce stiffness in joints.
Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage and meniscii degenerate. Over time, two bones in the joint rub together with little or no protection from cartilage. This leads to pain and inflammation in the joint as the space within the joint starts to decrease without the cushioning, and stiffness starts to become a bigger and bigger problem. The TShellz Wrap® is intended to generate warmth and an increase in blood flow - resulting in less stiffness and better range-of-motion.
Contribute to your overall well-being.
Increased blood flow should result in a stronger immune system and an ability for you body to recover from soft tissue injuries more quickly.
Believe me when I say that words alone cannot accurately describe what the TShellz Wrap® can do for you. It truly is something you need to experience first-hand.
TShellz Wrap® = A Localized Enhanced Circulatory Response® Treatment
If you want to heal quickly, you need to keep your blood moving and that's where TShellz® Circulatory Boost Wraps come in. What is Circulatory Boost? It's a substantial increase in the flow of blood to soft tissue without having to rely on exercising your weakened joint. This is what the TShellz Wrap® does... you can really feel it work!
Have you seen what happens when you add water to a flower wilted from drought? An injured muscle is kind of like a "wilted" flower - your body wants to heal the injury but needs lots of nutrients to do it. Blood supports and facilitates new life by delivering healing nutrients and oxygen that are vital for the growth and repair of soft tissue. Furthermore, an increased blood flow is more effective at carrying away toxins and waste - this all adds up to increased capability of your body to heal soft tissue. Without a good supply of blood, damaged soft tissue simply will not heal in a timely fashion.
Both during and after the treatment, soft tissue (muscle, tendons, ligaments, bursae) will experience an increase in blood flow even though your body is at rest.
In order to get maximum blood flow to your foot and surrounding soft tissue, you need to help your body stimulate blood flow - you need a TShellz® Circulatory Boost Wrap. A Localized Enhanced Circulatory Response® Treatment is intended to be fastest and easiest pain-free way to increase localized blood flow and is a key part of MendMeShop's home conservative treatment plan.
A Localized Enhanced Circulatory Response® Treatment is Achieved Via the TShellz Wrap®
During a treatment, and for quite some time after you finish, the treated area will experience increased blood flow even though your body is at rest. It's a soothing sensation and extremely effective. With a TShellz Wrap® application, injured soft tissue is constantly being fed with healing, nutritious, oxygen and energy filled blood. This is exactly the fuel that soft tissue needs to heal.
How A TShellz Wrap® Works
A TShellz Wrap® is purely a Circulatory Boost workhorse! It is why we made them. They have been specifically designed for boosting blood flow, reducing inflammation and relieving pain from strained, spasming or damaged soft tissue (muscles, bursae, tendons, etc). Based on results from past clients, we are confident that they will be very beneficial for most of our future customers.
TShellz Wraps® contain an Energy Pad which is very pliable and will conform pretty much anywhere on the body. The Energy Pad emits a uniform wave of energy over the entire treatment area. This energy travels into soft tissue, stimulating blood flow that your body requires to help heal your injury. Blood flow is crucial to the healing process.
Increased Blood Flow = More Oxygen, More Nutrients and Less Toxins in Soft Tissue
The unit plugs into a wall outlet to get its power. It has a special signal controller which can be set for 3 different power levels of application (3=High, 2=Medium, 1=Low). The cord is long enough that you can sit or lie comfortably and watch TV, read or surf the net while you're using it.
4 Key Points To Keep in Mind When Treating Sesamoiditis & Other Connective Tissue Injuries in the Foot
1: Make Sure That Complete Healing is Your #1 Goal
We all know that if the injury was healed, the pain would go away but what about the opposite situation? If the pain is gone, does that mean the injury is better? Unfortunately, this is not always true.
Too many people only focus on suppressing pain symptoms while providing less attention to the true healing aspects of the body. Experiencing less pain, while obviously a good short-term goal, never equates to underlying healing. Scar tissue can remain for months after one gets to a point of being relatively pain-free. However, as long the weak and inflexible scar tissue remains, you are susceptible to re-injury or re-aggravation. Certain motions or movements can cause weaker tissue to easily tear - resulting in some reversal of the recovery up until that point.
This is why we recommend for people to continue with their doctor or therapist recommended exercises and to continue with mild treatments of the TShellz Wrap® for a period of time - to better ensure complete healing.
Ongoing treatments to enhance circulation are intended to soothe, relax and promote healing of damaged soft tissue in the application area. T•Shellz treatment also results in the ability of soft tissue to extend further due to the effect of heat on soft tissue. The more extensible your tissues are, the less likely they are to strain or sprain.
Soft tissue injuries are a race against time. The faster and stronger you heal tissue in your foot, the less chance there is for re-injury or other problems later on.
MendMeShop Sesamoid TShellz Wrap®
This wrap is designed to:
- increase extensibility & flexibility of metatarsals/sesamoid/toe areas during treatment & for a short while after
- increase blood flow in the application area
- be used on the TOP or BOTTOM of the foot
2: Resting Your Feet Will Help, But Only Temporarily
People tell us all the time, "I was told that if I rest for a few weeks, the pain will disappear for good." The truth is, pain is often a culmination of numerous factors, which often include repetitive stress, high load issues due to excess weight, and/or overcompensation issues resulting from other muscle and soft tissue ailments (ie. short leg syndrome). It may take weeks or months for these pain triggers to surface, but when they do, merely resting will not solve the underlying issues. You need to utilize options that actually treat the source of the pain and help reverse the damage that has been done.
Resting has a role to play, but it is only one small factor in a recovery plan.
3: Determine if There is A Deeper Underlying Cause To Your Problem & Fix It. Otherwise, It May Come Back
In order to get lasting relief, you need to identify all the factors that are contributing to your foot pain. An example of some factors that may or may not be relevant are:
- muscle imbalances
- pinched nerve(s) in the knee, ankle, hip or lower back
- short leg syndrome
- obesity
- flat footedness
- trauma
4: Know that Pain isn't the Only Proof You're Still Injured
Would you know you injured yourself if there was no pain? Probably not! Pain and swelling perform a useful role in letting you know that you did, in fact, injure yourself. Pain and swelling are what get you to seek out medical attention in the hopes of finding a way to reduce the pain and heal your injury.
Plantar fasciitis (PF) will likely cause extreme pain and according to studies, it is an indicator of chronic morbidity [meaning that PF is a statistical predictor of long term foot problems]. Be careful with pain-killers that mask the pain as overuse can give you a false sense that your injury is gone. Strive to reduce the inflammation and maintain or improve flexibility in the foot while avoiding re-injury to see a reduction in pain.
We all know that if the injury was healed, the pain would go away but what about the opposite situation? If the pain is gone, does that mean the injury is better? Unfortunately, this is not always true.
On-going TShellz Wrap® treatments at home, every day, are intended soothe, relax and promote blood flow to soft tissue. Consistent TShellz® Circulatory Boost Wrap treatments before activity or work will help warm up the area, increasing soft tissue elasticity & flexibility; this in turn will also reduce the risk of re-injury.
Conservative Treatment Tools Our Clients Have Used to Help Limit Foot Tendon Damage & Boost The Body's Soft Tissue Repair Process at Home:
If you are truly looking for the home treatment options to reduce inflammation, increase range of motion, and treat the source of pain quickly, a conservative treatment protocol including the following are what we consider to be the most effective:
- A Cold Compress or Ice Pack to reduce inflammation wherever there is pain and/or swelling (as soon as possible).
- A Sesamoid TShellz Wrap® to increase blood-flow to the targeted treatment area (midfoot, ball of foot and toes - top, side or bottom).
- MendMeShop Arnica Pain Cream for powerful, temporary relief of pain due to sore tendons.
- Perhaps a High Quality Knee Pillow for comfort while sleeping, sitting and raising the foot.
- If you need compression, a Plantar Compression Band for compression and support in the foot - adjustable from heel to toe.
- An Exercise & Stretching Plan to prevent muscle atrophy, shortened tendons/ligaments/fascia. A proper plan will increase soft tissue elasticity and strength in the affected area.
Conservative treatment tools just like these have been used successfully by thousands of foot injury sufferers - just like you.
The TShellz Wrap®: Intended to Enhance Blood Flow in the Treatment Area
We believe the use of TShellz Wraps® for boosting blood flow to soft tissue in the area of application is one of the most under-utilized home treatment options available on the market today. We have client after client that have tried many options out there and have been amazed at how effective and fast the TShellz Wrap treatment has helped in their recovery.
Increased Blood Flow Stimulates the Bodys' Ability to Heal
With regular use of the TShellz® Circulatory Boost Wrap:
- Your pain will be reduced*.
- Due to increased blood flow, soft tissue in the treatment area on the foot will be expected to recover at an accelerated rate with reduced potential for re-injury*.
- Tissue in the treated area should experience a larger range of motion and increased extensibility of collagen tissue* due to the heat effect on soft tissue. This should translate into a reduced rate of re-injury occurrence as soft tissue is known to lengthen and become more flexible when exposed to warm temperature. (*Chapter 9 of "Therapeutic Heat and Cold", 4th edition. - Ed. Justus F. Lehmann, M.D., Williams, and Wilkin)
*Know that every personal soft tissue injury is unique and the TShellz Wrap may not work for everyone. This is why we offer a 60-day money back return on all our TShellz Wrap devices.
MendMeShop Arnica Infusion Pain Relief Cream
Pain Keeping You Awake?
Pain Keeping You In Bed?
Pain Got You On Edge?
Temporary Relief from Serious Pain For People Who Are Serious About It!
MendMeShop Sesamoid TShellz Wrap®
This wrap is designed to:
- increase extensibility & flexibility of metatarsals/sesamoid/toe areas during treatment & for a short while after
- increase blood flow in the application area
- be used on the TOP or BOTTOM of the foot
MendMeShop's Knee Pillow
This is by far the best knee pillow we have ever tried
- Perfect Size & Shape
- Not too Soft or Hard
- Removable, Washable Cover
- Multiple uses: soft enough to comfortably prop up the foot from the lower leg
We Receive Calls All the Time From Customers Who Simply Want To Thank Us For Introducing Them To Our Amazing Products!
Let me tell you, we appreciate all the feedback we have received over the years. We have had many medical professionals, athletes and everyday people call and write to tell us about their positive experiences with our devices and the company in general. It never gets old hearing about the successes and it provides us with the motivation to continue doing what we do best - provide individuals with options to heal from the comfort of their own home.
A SMALL Sample of Feedback From Our Customers
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USACharlie
The Best Service by Far!
The service from the Mend Me Shop is by far the best you could ever hope for. I have spoken to Paul on numerous occasions and his knowledge is very much appreciated. Do not hesitate to order from this company. Their products are made well and work. Their customer service is the best you could ever hope for. -
USAD. McBride
I have called the office and received helpful guidance. Really appreciate the help and so glad I found your products!
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USAL. Anderson
Thank you, too, for the personal attention to your customers. A rarity, in today's world!
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USAT. Kienlen
You guys are tremendous. I was overwhelmed by your speed and thoroughness regarding my problem.
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USAM. Callahan
The fact that you guys are there for us every step of the way matters as well. Your company is wonderful and that's a rarity these days.
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USAD. Hunzicker
Thank You so much superior service as well as unprecedented guarantee.
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USAP. King
The cost seemed minimal compared to what I had already spent at the doctor and physical therapist.
If you're tired of being told that resting, drugs and surgery are the only answers to your soft tissue injury.... Be optimistic, because there are effective alternatives for you.
The Reasons For Our High Success Rate - Our Customers!
We never claim our products will work for everyone. That is simply impossible to achieve. Everyone has a different capacity for healing and different circumstances behind their injuries and/or conditions.
In addition, some people may have a hard time sticking with recommended protocol in order to achieve benefits from our devices. Quite simply, our clients that have had successful outcomes have made a small effort to invest 60 minutes a day into the program. If you do the same, chances are you will be very happy with the outcome.
Right after you place an order, email us and we will have a plan developed immediately so you will be able to get started upon arrival of your parcel. We can't promise you miraculous results, however, we do promise to do everything we can to help you with your condition.
Right after you place an order, email us and we will have a plan developed immediately so you will be able to get started upon arrival of your parcel. We can't promise you miraculous results, however, we do promise to do everything we can to help you with your condition.
Everything you have read up to now has hopefully given you some hope.
However, words are meaningless unless a company stands strongly behind the products they sell. This is what sets us apart from others...we offer people a comprehensive, 60 day, full 100% money back guarantee. We take on all of the risk because we know our products work well for the overwhelming majority of people who purchase them.
We Will Support You Every Step of the Way
You are never alone when making a purchase from us. When we say we stand behind our products, we truly mean it!
If any question or concern arises, simply send us an email at any time (we check our emails constantly all throughout the day and night - even on holidays!). We will respond as soon as possible.
Simply call toll free 1-866-237-9608 to place an order with one of our knowledgeable Product Advisers. They have the ability to answer all your questions...ensuring you only receive the products you need.
Product Advisors are available 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time Monday to Friday.
North America Toll Free 1-866-237-9608
Outside North America +1-705-532-1671
We Stand Behind All Our Promises With An Iron-Clad Guarantee
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1Guarantee #1
Use your products diligently for up to 60 days and you will experience a significant reduction in pain. If not, I encourage you to send back the items for a no-hassle 100% refund.
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2Guarantee #2
You will not be left in the dark after purchasing any product from us. AidMyPlantar Advisors and Product Specialists are available 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time Monday to Friday.
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3Guarantee #3
Your order is guaranteed to be shipped within 24 hours on every business day.
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4Guarantee #4
All purchases receive a one year, full replacement warranty with guaranteed, prompt service.
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5Guarantee #5
You could save hundreds of dollars and possibly more, by getting back to work sooner.
We Can Get You Started For Less Than The Cost Of A Few Physical Therapy Treatments
Think about it – you can now have the ability to treat your pain from the comfort of your own home while saving money in the process.
Best of all, you are fully protected when making a purchase from us as we offer a no-hassle 60 day, full money back guarantee.
The Next Step Is Up To You!
Living with pain is never easy as it affects your entire lifestyle. Nothing is more important than making the proper decision when it comes to treating your muscle injury. Most methods only mask the problems or provide temporary relief; they do not treat the pain at its source.
AidMyPlantar stands out in this regard as our goal is to help you heal for the longer-term.
The bottom line is, you are welcome to try our products for a full 2 months. If you do not receive the benefits that others have experienced after using the product as directed, simply call us to initiate a return and we will issue a prompt & full refund. There will be no hassle and no hard feelings.
The fastest option you have to get our product into your hands as soon as possible is by placing your order online - at this very moment..
Place your order on-line through our ultra-secure website by clicking the image below.
Call us Toll Free 1-866-237-9608 to place an order with one of our knowledgeable Product Advisors. They have the ability to answer all your questions...ensuring you only receive the products you need.
North America Toll Free 1-866-237-9608
Outside North America +1-705-532-1671
If you choose to order through our online shop, know that we keep no credit card data on file. Once the transaction is completed, the credit information disappears from our internal systems.
As you can see, ordering from us is a very easy and safe process, no matter if choosing to order on-line or over the phone.
Are you still unsure about placing an order? let me address some questions that we are often asked about...
What is the success rate of the TShellz Wraps®? Do they really work?
We try and keep in touch with a large percentage of our customers, and we encourage them to do the same. In doing so, we have received a lot of feedback as we have been in the business since 2008.
We can say that the return rate on our products is only around 5 to 10% any given month. That is exceptional by anyone's standards. Therefore, we can safely indicate that the overwhelming majority of people who purchase from us do achieve benefits with our products.
How much time do I need to dedicate for treatments? Are the products easy to use?
The TShellz Wraps® are very easy devices to use. After one or two uses, you will engage in the treatments with ease. Very detailed instructions are included and you are always welcome to contact us by phone or email if the need for help arises.
In regards to the TShellz Wrap®, it is ideal to use the device two or three times a day on average. Each treatment session is a maximum of 20 minutes in duration and the device will turn off automatically at that time. Typically, people use the TShellz Wrap® before bed, upon awakening (or not long after) and one other time during the day when the opportunity presents itself. For people in an office setting, many will use the device at work (as it can be worn over clothing). For others, they will use the device an our or two after work.
A Cold Compress or Ice Pack is primarily used following activity that stresses the injured tissues (following work, after a sports activity, or just suffering a general re-injury). This is done to reduce inflammation and to minimize tissue damage. Treatments are 15 to 20 minutes in duration.
How long has MendMeShop been in business
We established our firm in December of 2005. Our track record in this field continues to grow and we plan on being around for many decades to come.
What is your return policy? Is it the standard 30 days?
We go above and beyond what other companies offer.
We offer a full 60 day money back guarantee with no restocking fees.
AidMyPlantar advisors do not work on commission, so be assured you will only receive fair and objective information.
Product specialists are available 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time Monday to Friday.
If any question or concern arises, call us or simply send us an email at any time (we check our emails constantly all throughout the day and night.. even on holidays!). We will respond as soon as possible.
North America Toll Free 1-866-237-9608
Outside North America +1-705-532-1671
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL PRODUCTS CURRENTLY ENABLED
Please be aware that this information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. All testimonials and comments reflect the real life experiences of individuals that used our products, however, individual results may vary. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider before using any of our outstanding products to make sure they are right for you and your condition or if you have any questions regarding a medical condition.
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The terms Inferno Wrap®, Freezie Wrap®, T-Shellz® and Mendmeshop.com® are registered trademarks of In.Genu Design Group Inc.
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Sources:
1. (2018) https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00164
2. (2018) https://foot.com/site/foot-conditions/sesamoiditis
3. (2018) https://www.healthcommunities.com/sesamoiditis/treatment.shtml
4. (2018) https://www.ahni.com/Specialties/Foot+and+Ankle/Articles/Common+Disorders/Sesamoiditis.html
5. (2018) https://www.methodistorthopedics.com/sesamoid-problems