Big Toe Pain

Big toe pain, a condition of the thumbs of the feet causes stiffness and pain of the joints. Over time the pain increases making it hard to bend the toe. Big toe pain may be due to several reasons - gout, structural deformities of the bones of the feet, broken foot, ingrown toenails or broken toe. Big toe joint pain can be very troubling, since the big toe is used in everyday activities like walking, running, climbing or even standing. Here we give you some of the most common causes of big toe pain, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options available to you.

Big Toe Pain Causes

One of the most common reasons of big toe pain is gout. Gout is characterized by excessive metabolism of uric acid. When too much uric acid is formed by the body or when the body cannot remove excess uric acid, gout results. If there is excess of uric acid in the body then gouty arthritis or kidney stones may result. If you have red hot swollen joints all of a sudden, you may be suffering from gout. If the intake of purine rich foods like meat, seafood, etc. are high there are chances that you may suffer from big toe pain. This is because of the accumulation of excess uric acid.

Big toe pain may also be caused due to enlargement of the bone or tissue of the big toe. The enlargement may be due to inflammation of the tissue due to an injury or degeneration of the joint. Broken bones may result in big toe pain as they are vulnerable to twisting and slipping. Read on bunions.

If there is an ingrown toenail, you may suffer from big toe pain. It happens when a corner of the toenail is dug inside the skin at the side or end of the toe. Initially, inflammation and pain occurs at the point where the nail curls and at a later stage the area which is inflamed begins to grow extra tissue. If it is not treated on time, may become an abscess which may need surgery later. Read on toenail problems.

Symptoms of Big Toe Pain

Stiffness and big toe pain when running are two of the most common early sings that there is something wrong with your big toe. If your toe is injured there would be pain, swelling and stiffness. The skin would also be bruised around the toe. You may find it difficult to ware shoes.

If there is sudden swelling and pain of the big toe joint without your toe getting injured, it may be a result of gout. At times the pain may be so intense that it may be difficult for a person suffering from gout to put on even a bed sheet. Within a week or two the pain may recede and may again appear after a month or even longer.

Diagnosis of Big Toe Pain

If there is big toe pain, when walking or running, make sure that you take it seriously. The sooner a doctor is able to diagnose this condition, easier it becomes to treat the condition. So you should see medical professional when you get a painful feeling for the first time. If you don't treat it immediately, the condition would aggravate and may become unmanageable later. While diagnosing, a surgeon would examine your foot or may take a sample of your blood for testing to determine, if you suffer from gout.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for big toe pain may include surgical or non-surgical methods. Usually non-surgical methods like medications and exercises can reduce big toe pain. However, surgical methods may be required if non-surgical methods are ineffective or if the pain is due to injury where there has been a deformity. While performing a surgery the doctor would take a combination of factors like your activity levels, your age and extent of deformity. Depending on the procedure performed, the time for recovery would vary.

Non-surgical method of treatment is beneficial if treatment for joint pain is started early. The most common non-surgical treatment option is medications. Oral anti-inflammatory drugs or pain killers are prescribed most of the times. At times, corticosteroid injections may be prescribed so as to reduce pain and inflammation. Physical therapies like exercises may help in relieving pain in the long run. However, you should consult a physician when you try out physical therapy. Read on foot problems.

Thus, big toe pain may be due to several reasons and it's always best to consult your doctor to know the exact cause of such pains. I Hope this article has given you enough information about big toe pain and some treatment options available.