Why toes hurt

This abnormality causes the toe to point in the opposite direction and potentially overlap onto the toe next to it.

Many shoes put pressure on the protruding joint, and, over time, the pressure may cause the fluid filled sac in the joint bursa to swell and become inflamed. A bunion may cause swelling, inflammation, and pain.

The big toe also visibly points inward while the joint at its base points outward. To alleviate symptoms, a person should wear shoes that do not put extra pressure on the joint. A wide and flexible sole is ideal. In cases of sudden injury or unexplained pain, a person should see their doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

A doctor may recommend at-home treatments or other medical interventions that alleviate pain. Many causes of pain in the big toe are treatable.

For simple injuries, a person may only need to rest, apply ice, and use pain relievers as necessary. More serious injuries or medical conditions may require surgery or other medical interventions. In most cases, a person can expect a full recovery if they treat the underlying condition or rest from the activity that caused the injury in the first place.

Big toe pain is often the result of injury or minor medical conditions. In many cases, the cause is easy to treat and fully curable. A person should rest from activities that cause further pain and follow all treatment advice from their doctor. There are many possible causes of pain at the big toe joint, including osteoarthritis, gout, and injuries.

This pain can sometimes make it difficult…. People use their feet almost constantly, whatever level of activity they are involved in on a daily basis. A sprained toe is a common injury that is often tender and painful. Broken toes and sprained toes share many causes and symptoms. Learn more about a…. What causes big toe pain? Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Common causes Other causes When to see a doctor Outlook Summary Big toe pain is often the result of injury or minor underlying medical conditions.

Share on Pinterest Big toe pain has a wide range of possible causes. Other causes. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis linked to psoriasis, an autoimmune skin disease that causes red, silver, scaly rashes on the skin. People with PsA are likely to have problems with their toenails , such as pitting and crumbling, as well as swollen fingers and toes, a condition called dactylitis that makes them appear sausage-like. Enthesitis , or inflammation at the sites where tendons and ligaments attach to bones, is also common in PsA.

This can affect the Achilles tendon at the heel or cause plantar fasciitis along the bottom of the foot. Also called septic arthritis, this type of arthritis typically causes extreme pain and difficulty using the affected join. Septic arthritis is caused by bacteria or fungi that are carried through the bloodstream from another area of the body, usually settling in one joint.

A bacterial infection from an injury or opening from a surgical procedure can also cause infectious arthritis by bringing germs directly to the joint. Pain worsens with movement and comes on rapidly in hours or days. The diagnosis of arthritis in toes begins with taking your medical history and a physical exam of your foot. The doctor will look at your entire foot, not just your toes. Your doctor will likely order an X-ray of the foot to help determine whether there is joint damage or changes in the alignment of bones in the foot.

If your doctor suspects you could have a type of inflammatory arthritis, such as RA or PsA, they may order blood tests to look for signs of inflammation such as C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate as well as antibodies such as rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP. If your doctor suspects you could have gout, they may give you a blood test to look for elevated levels of uric acid and draw fluid from the joint to look for uric acid crystals.

Treatment for arthritis of the toes depends on the type of arthritis that you have. It typically starts with conservative measures. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen Advil and naproxen Aleve , as well as prescription NSAIDs, can help relieve pain and swelling in the joints. In inflammatory arthritis and gout, they can be used along with other kinds of medication to treat inflammation, pain, and swelling. A topical gel like diclofenac Voltaren may be prescribed for toe arthritis, says Dr.

This medication can help treat and relieve inflammation. An occasional shot can be given in any toe and offer temporary pain relief and reduce inflammation. If you have an inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs DMARDs such as methotrexate are used as a first-line therapy to help reduce the immune system activity that triggers inflammation and pain.

DMARDs are not used for osteoarthritis. Biologics are a newer class of DMARDs that target specific immune system pathways to reduce immune system activity that is causing inflammation and pain. There are two main kinds of drugs used to treat gout: those used during a flare to reduce inflammation and pain and those used preventively to lower uric acid levels and prevent future flares from occurring.

Medications used to treat inflammation in an acute gout flare include NSAIDs, oral corticosteroids or steroid injections, or a drug called colchicine. Medications called xanthine oxidase inhibitors limit the amount of uric acid your body produces. These include allopurinol Zyloprim and Aloprim and febuxostat Uloric.

Another class of drugs called uricosurics help your kidneys remove uric acid from the body. These include probenecid Probalan and lesinurad Zurampic. If your gout attack is limited to one or two joints and your pain is mild to moderate, you may only need one of these medications to control the inflammation.

However, if your pain is severe, and if one or more of your larger joints not just a toe are involved, you may need a combination of treatments to get it under control. Your doctor may send you for physical therapy to help improve your range of motion and strengthen the muscles around your foot. These exercises relieve stiffness and increase your ability to move your joints through their full range of motion. You want to wear shoes that take pressure of your toe joints to relieve some of the stress from arthritis of the toes.

Look for footwear with a more rigid, stiff sole which will provide support and wide toe box to help prevent excessive stress and bending forces on the toe joints. Ditch high heels; they put your foot in an unnatural position that takes a toll over time. Read more about how to pick the best shoes when you have arthritis. Cold therapy can provide relief for inflamed joints in the wrist. Cold constricts the blood vessels in the muscles, which decreases blood flow to the joint area to help reduce swelling and inflammation.

Heat therapy warms the skin and the joints, which causes blood vessels to dilate, and sends more oxygen and nutrients to the joints and muscles. Try both and see which makes you feel best. Cycling on a recumbent bike or swimming are good options.

Keeping your weight close to your ideal body mass index BMI is one of the best things you can do to control your toe pain. This leads to deformity and pain. Bunions are often hereditary , although they may also develop when a person wears poorly fitting shoes. Women are more susceptible to bunions because they are more likely to wear pointed shoes or high heels that compress the toes and put excess pressure on the joints.

The primary symptoms of bunions include the painful bump, inflammation and redness, pain, and the development of corns or other skin irritation due to the bump rubbing against your shoes. Your podiatrist may suggest using orthotics or physical therapy to readjust the joint, as well as wearing shoes with a wider toe box.

In some cases, surgery is necessary to remove any excess bone and restore the joint. A hammertoe is a deformity in the middle joint of the toe that caused the toe to bend unnaturally. Hammertoes are characterized by pain, immobility in the affected toe, and the development of corns or calluses.

Your podiatrist will treat your hammertoe with the suggestion to wear different shoes that have enough space for your toes as well as orthotic shoe inserts and exercises to strengthen and reposition the toe. Common toe injuries include fractures and strains. These are more common in people who participate in athletic activities like jogging, tennis or team sports like football, soccer or basketball.

The best way to avoid injuries is to wear properly fitting footwear and to take care of your feet and toes with correct toenail trimming and stretching the feet. Toe injuries are often best treated with the RICE method rest, ice, compression, elevation , but you should always have an injury assessed by a professional podiatrist.