An Overview Of The Causes Of Toe Pain

Are you constantly suffering from toe pain, yet are unaware of the cause? Is it preventing you from living your life to the fullest?

Pain in the toes can be really uncomfortable and whilst the majority of causes are not serious, if left untreated, it may lead to something more serious, especially if there is an underlying condition which is causing the pain.

Certain pains may have an obvious cause, such as injury, but it can also be a complete mystery. Often the pain can be diagnosed on the basis of the symptoms experienced. Usually pain is most often experienced in the big toe and this can lead to trouble walking even a few steps.

Conditions That Cause Toe Pain

Below I have listed the common causes of toe pain:

繚 Gout- This condition most commonly affects the joint of the big toe and causes it to become hot and tender to touch. It will also usually become swollen and extremely painful. It is caused by a build up of uric acid in the bloodstream which the body cannot process. The build up of acid results in the acid becoming crystallised in the joints of the toe.

繚 Bursitis- Another type of pain which affects the big toe. Bursitis is caused by inflammation of the bursa: a fluid filled sac situated within the joints that cushion the bones, tissues and tendons. This results in inflammation, swelling and severe pain.

繚 Arthritis- One of the most common causes of toe pain is osteoarthritis. This is caused by a degenerative breakdown of cartilage in the foot. This causes bones to rub together causing pain. Another form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. This condition leads to the joints and tissues of the toe being destroyed by the body's own immune system. The common symptoms of this condition are swelling and pain.

繚 Bunions- This is a type of deformity in the foot. A bony lump will protrude on the outside of the foot, causing the first metatarsal bone to become displaced. The big toe gets pushed inwards towards the other toes. This condition is extremely painful and wearing shoes can also be difficult.

繚 Ingrown Toenail- An ingrown toenail is where the nail starts to grow into the tissues of the foot. This results in pain, inflammation and swelling. If left untreated the toe can become infected. Sometimes a foot doctor will remove part of the nail or remove it in full.

繚 Hammer Toe- This condition is where the middle of the toe points upwards causing the toe to look like a hammer. It usually appears in the second toe and is caused by a bunion on the big toe pressing against it. Shoes that have a wide toe box may be of help so might padding any callous which has appeared. If none of these work, then surgery is an option to straighten out the toe.

繚 Morton's Neuroma- This is also commonly known as Morton's toe. This type of toe pain is caused by a benign growth between the toes. You will usually notice a tingling sensation or a shooting pain in the toes. The growth is not dangerous, just abnormal. The pain will be more noticeable if you are wearing tight shoes. In certain cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the growth and stop the pain.

The above are the main causes of toe pain and all these conditions can be easily treated. Injury is another common cause of toe pain caused either during a sporting activity or by dropping something onto the toe. In this case you will need to visit a hospital to see if the toe is broken or not.

In order to fully diagnose the causes of your pain, you need to visit a doctor for an examination. Remember to explain to the doctor all of your symptoms. He will then be able to diagnose what the problem is and either provide treatment or refer you to a specialist.

If you need to wait to see a specialist, the doctor will be able to provide you with some pain relief in the meantime.