Hitchhiker's Toe

By archie

1 min read

I was diagnosed with Parkinson's several years ago and have experienced most of the symptoms associated with it. Recently I developed a condition that perplexes me and caused me to wonder if any other Parkinson's patients have it; the big toe of my left foot wants to stand straight up!

When it first started, a burning sensation was felt along the top of the toe while it was trying to stand up. After a few weeks, the pain ceased but the toe now stands up most of the time. I expect to see my toe poking out of the shoe before long. I have asked several doctors, a neurologist, therapists, a podiatrist and a chiropractor and not one can tell me why the toe wants to stand up.

Hitchhiker's toe and Parkinson's

Searching on-line I found a site that states "Hitchhiker's toe resembles the thumb of a hitchhiker, due to the hyperextension of the extensor hallucis longus muscle. This involuntary position is also called striated toe. Causes of this deformity include stroke, cerebral palsy, physical trauma, such as spinal cord injury, and other neurological disorders."

Could PD be included under "other neurological disorders"? I have ruled out most of the other stated possibilities. The quoted information was from the Connecticut Foot Care Centers, Podiatrists in CT.

Share your story

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The ParkinsonsDisease.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

Dan Glass Member
I have some similar issues with dystonia. My left foot began to ache horribly when I walked on it. I thought it was overexertion since I had been training for the Pacific NW hikes and doing 6+ miles a day on average... nope. Thanks PD. My right foot seems to be getting compelled in this direction, but it's rebelling against it... thankfully. Good luck working through it. I find hiking boots keep my toes in the right place. Boots can be "stylish," as opposed to combat or hunting style. Have a good 1. Dan moderator and PWP
Thea Destephano Member
<inline-mention username="Dan Glass" user-id="3074290"/> archie. I have a slight variation of this as the toe goes to the side. If it becomes too uncomfortable my dr has recommended injections of botulinum toxin. The NIH has an excellent web site on <a href='https://PubMed.gov' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>PubMed.gov</a> that you may find informative www@ <a href='https://.pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>.pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov</a> I hope this proves helpful. Let us know how you are doing. Best , Thea DeStephano. Community Team Member
Tracylmontoya Member
I have this same problem except my toe tries to curl down and it’s on my right side. From my neck down throughout my whole right side to my big toe it feels like a rubber band wound uptight and needing to stretch out. 🥲 This disease is ridiculous and rude. 🤨 All I can do is just chuckle every time a new symptom pops up. Every time I think I’m getting Parkinson’s under control it does a Parkinswap and another ridiculous symptom comes a calling. God bless you my friend….. keep your chin up and your toe down 👍🏼♥️🙏🏼
1. Marc Mitnick Member
 I'm so sorry to hear about your toes curling, Tracy. I have the same symptom on my left foot. I showed it to my doctor, but he. had no remedy for my situation. Does anyone out there have a remedy that they have tried? Best, Marc M., Moderator, <a href='https://parkinsonsdisease.net' target='_blank'>parkinsonsdisease.net</a>
2. Thea Destephano Member
 <inline-mention username="Tracylmontoya" user-id="7006939"/> I am no longer experiencing curling toes but when I did I tried using toe separators similar to what is used in a nail salon during a pedicure. However it was made of a sturdier material. You can find several examples on Amazon. It helped me and I hope it might work for you too. I love your term Parkinswap! Thea DeStephano Community Team Member
lindalou Member
I can relate to those of you who have curling big toes — I have had them, first beginning with my initial symptomatic side (my right) and now have had both sides affected for several years — I read somewhere that the issue is due to the decrease of dopamine and thus during the waning of the dopamine medication a person is taking — and so it seems with me — the first time it happened I thought “ How interesting “ as it didn’t hurt too badly but it has since become more painful — I used to feel that my big toes were going to break at any moment because the big toes would go one way while the rest of them went another ( they never did, though) — I have found that standing up by the side of the bed ( they usually occur at night ) so that my feet flatten out or on my inevitable walk to the bathroom often takes care of the problem and also if I drink a nice glass of water or juice ( provides fluids and minerals) helps bunches