TLDR: Diagnosed with functional hallux limitus which seems to go away spontaneously and come back slowly. Could a ganglion cycst be to blame?

Hello, about two years ago, started experiencing pain bilaterally around the first metatarsal joint with walking. Went to a podiatrist and got diagnosed with functional hallux limitus. Good range of motion except during the loading test she performed which indicated to her that that’s what it was. Xray showed no problems. Her loading test included pushing her finger under my first metatarsal and then trying to bend the big toe. Tried PT, didn’t really do anything. Tried the shoe inserts, were extremely uncomfortable and rigid shoes are sort of a no go because my knees can’t stand them.

Started doing physical manipulation of my own foot to try to stretch or help, I don’t really know. Realized when I pushed my first metatarsal down in a certain way (shown in picture, pushing down on first metatarsal and up on outside of foot), I would get a sharp pain in my cuneiform joint which would go away when I released. Sort of felt like a ganglion cyst (I get them in my wrists and ankles). Kept pressing/manipulating it and it would make my pain better when I walked (maybe it was placebo). One day, I felt/heard a pop. Not like a cartilage pop but a ganglion cyst pop. Shortly after, my foot swelled up a bit like when an ankle ganglion cyst pops and my pain was IMMEDIATELY better., no problems walking, walked 15 miles a day when I went to Europe a few months late. Followed suit with the other foot, heard a pop and the same thing happened. Proceeded to have no pain for maybe 4/5 months when it started to slowly come back and I accidently kicked a doorframe with my big toe. A little swelling and bruising on top of my join and the pain immediately went away again. I’ve continued this trend for the last year or so since I discovered it and it seems to be working moderately well. Could this be a mechanism of functional hallux limitus? A ganglion cyst growing in the cuneiform/midfoot joints which restricts movement of the metatarsal and results in first metatarsal joint jamming? There seems to be little or no research on the actual cause of hallux limitus so this whole process has been very frustrating since I am overall a very active person. Also I have noticed that the hallux limits seems to come back similar times through the year (like now around Christmas). Maybe there is a weather component? Idk, any insight/opinions would be helpful. Thanks!

Picture linked: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bSfxBJjXSiLyUsO3ZUWFAZyKUh1Oc7hD/view?usp=drivesdk