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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Second toe longer than big toe

129 replies

LiIo · 29/05/2022 20:24

Not an AIBU but wanted to see poll results plus it’s a Sunday evening and I’m bored…

My second toe is notably longer than my big toe.

It’s called a Morton’s toe its recorded prevalence varies in different populations, with estimates from 2.95% to 22%.

Doesn’t really bother me but none of my friends have it so was wondering if any MNers have it. I seem to have inherited it from my father and apparently it is more common in men.

It is supposedly associated with naturally athletic people, which fits with me but definitely not my father!

So, is your second toe longer than your big toe? (YABU - No, YANBU - Yes).

OP posts:
CrapBucket · 29/05/2022 22:44

I have this, it runs in my Irish family so I have only ever heard it called [Our Irish Surname] Toe as though we invented it! Arrogant much 🤣

We are all naturally slim/athletic builds and although I would not describe myself as beautiful, my family definitely are.

cantthinkofabetterusername · 29/05/2022 22:46

My second toes are longer than my big toe on both feet, dp regularly points it out and says I'm weird 😂 I'm going with a pp post saying it means intelligence that'll shut him up

Foldingchair · 29/05/2022 22:46

SoggyPaper · 29/05/2022 22:42

How does it make wearing pointy shoes harder though? Surely the more diamond shape of the toes would make it easier.

No, because the point is over the big toe and assumes the others get shorter in a regimented fashion. Randomly sticking up second toes fuck it all up.
Converse trainers work though.
But yy to the pp who said sandals don't fit cos tiny little toes get stuck, as you need to size up for the long toe.

Fleamaker123 · 29/05/2022 22:55

Just had a quick read up of Morton's toe. It's caused by a shorter than usual big toe, which then gives the impression of a 'long' second toe.
So it's the big toe that's at fault.

Codswallop20 · 29/05/2022 22:55

All my family on dad's side have a longer second toe.

Totally not athletic. At all.

onlythreenow · 29/05/2022 22:58

Yes, on both feet. Athletic - no!

Shakeupandwakeup · 29/05/2022 22:58

My second toe is longer than my big toe. I am definitely not athletic at all, I was always one of the last to be picked for sports teams at school, but I am pretty fit from weight training and bootcamps.

Gingernaut · 29/05/2022 23:02

Two Morton's Toes here, both with a elongated first proximal phalanges.

My big toes looked normal until the bunions kicked in during my twenties.

No one picked up on it until an x-ray last year.

It is incredibly painful to walk, I have multiple issues with my ankles and feet and have damaged my Achilles' tendon as well.

Gingernaut · 29/05/2022 23:04

To be pedantic, it's not the toe that's the issue, it's the metatarsal under it that's short.

PyongyangKipperbang · 29/05/2022 23:05

I have it, used to be an amateur athelete and have got back into it in my late 40's.

I was told it was the "Greek Foot" or "Grecian Toe". My girls all have it too.

VeryGoodVeryNice · 29/05/2022 23:06

I have it. I could run like shit off a shovel when I was younger, not so much these days though.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 29/05/2022 23:13

Yes on both feet

So does DS

My 2nd toe on my right foot is the same length as my little finger. Just for randomness

CharSiu · 29/05/2022 23:39

Both DH and I bab3 this, had no idea what it was called. Both in to sport when young and slim builds.

FAQs · 29/05/2022 23:44

Yes I have, both feet plus the added attraction of two hammer toes, I hate feet.

Justkeeppedaling · 29/05/2022 23:44

One is marginally longer. The other is the same as the big toe.

FAQs · 29/05/2022 23:45

Although surgery corrected the hammers.

BakeOffRewatch · 29/05/2022 23:45

It’s to do with Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war (the skilled strategic side of war, rather than the brutal passionate side of her brother Aries). So both clever and athletic. Statues of her have the second toe longer.

FrangipaniBlue · 30/05/2022 00:20

DH and DS both have Morton's Toes.

I would say both have natural athletic ability ie they seem to be good at any sport without putting much effort in!

Taz0032 · 30/05/2022 00:45

My Aunty use to say if a Woman has the second toe longer on her feet then that means she is the dominant figure in a relationship and is the leader. I asked her what if both partners have second toe long. She replied it's just if the Woman has it.
My own second toe is much shorter than my big toe and I am definitely not the dominant one! My Sister and Mother have both long toes and most definitely are the dominant ones in their relationship!

TheRealHousewife · 30/05/2022 09:18

I had this on both feet all my life until I got a spinal cord injury which has subtly changed joints, muscles, ligaments etc. Now it appears the same length but if I tug those toes they appear longer for a few seconds before retracting 😬 Our bodies are weird and change over the life course.

whynotwhatknot · 30/05/2022 13:17

a little bit longer-not atheltic and overweight

PineappleWilson · 30/05/2022 13:21

DH has it and both of our children have it too. DH is athletic, but he's tall (6ft+) and has long legs, so that goes a long way to help.

I wondered what your AIBU was going to be. AIBU to dump him because he has weird feet? etc

oviraptor21 · 31/05/2022 00:44

I tend to think it's just the length of the toes overall correlating to athletic ability. In much the same way that Michael Phelps's big hands and feet gave greater propulsion, I should imagine the long toes give a better springboard to jump from.

janeseymour78 · 31/05/2022 00:54

Yes I have this. Had lots of toe and foot issues over the years too and I'm fairly young.

AuntTwacky · 31/05/2022 01:25

YABU