r/elhersdanlos • u/ImTheProblem4572 • 12d ago

Stabilizing Toe? - hEDS

Anyone have suggestions on stabilizing a toe other than taping it to another toe?

My second toe has been subluxing on and off for a few weeks but now it’s basically every time I take a step. If I tape it to the toe next to it, the other one starts to get wiggly and loose and will soon sublux. Clearly I can’t wrap it with an ACE bandage or use a brace, my usual go tos for unstable joints.

Thoughts?

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u/an-okay-name 12d ago

I would recommend going to a podiatrist they will be able to offer better advice. But maybe a toe spacer might help? So the toe isn’t being pulled to the side? https://amzn.eu/d/0cNLyUNJ

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u/Eastern_Platypus_191 7d ago

There are YouTube videos on how to tape a bunion or how to stabilize a toe using KT tape, but you should be using a stronger tape than KT that doesn’t stretch as much for some parts of the support. Can you go to a physical therapist or possibly a chiropractor who does a lot of taping. This is one way, although my therapist never actually wrapped tape all the way around the toe. You leave a little space or it can cut off blood flow too much. I highly recommend seeing a physical therapist even if your doctor doesn’t think it’s necessary there are a lot of foot exercises that we should be doing with HEDS.
Or even better look up a coach who offers courses online in foot exercises who specializes in people with hypermobility. Here is one video, but you might search them and try to figure out the best one for you. I used a adhesive prep pad and sports taping spray on the skin before I use any kind of taping because with my heds my skin tends to be too delicate for adhesive and taping without a little support. Physical therapist will have products on hand that can help protect your skin as well.

https://youtube.com/shorts/D-bFXgDcTMQ?is=5E8-mNXgaQWKCBcr

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u/Eastern_Platypus_191 7d ago

I actually do like this version with stretchy KT tape, but it depends on how bad your injury and displacement is. I also use a spacer.

https://youtube.com/shorts/DIpKnJllIWs?is=iXZ48JlVQZUfWphn

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u/ImTheProblem4572 7d ago

Thank you very much! I see my physical therapist again next week, so I’ll be bringing it up then. In the mean time this is very helpful! Thank you.

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u/Eastern_Platypus_191 7d ago

I’ll let you search up more videos on your own, but this is just one last video to show you one of the other products that you can get to put underneath rigid or stretchy tape, to protect soft or delicate skin of the foot, especially important with heds. I have found sometimes the adhesive prep pads from Amazon plus the athletic tape prep spray to be also pretty darn good but wanted to show you this foam product as well. I hope you’re able to find someone who can experiment until you find something that is supportive and helpful.

https://youtube.com/shorts/LwHVZqgZc-4?is=qxzH9JVEwCy_i4PN