The big toe on my right foot hurts. Severe pain near the nail when pressing or walking. Big toe hurts - causes
Many of us sooner or later experience pain in different parts bodies. They cause discomfort and sometimes hinder movement. A person whose big toes hurt feels discomfort even while walking, so you need to start treatment as quickly as possible.
Causes
When your toes start to hurt, there is no need to talk about any other symptoms. Very often a person concentrates on these painful sensations and does not notice the symptoms accompanying the disease.
Here are the causes of pain that may occur on the surface thumbs There may be a lot of legs, so it is worth considering all diseases separately.
Diseases that can cause big toe pain
Some diseases are more common, some are less common, but this does not mean that some can be excluded, while others can be feared throughout your life.
Gout
This disease is associated with an increase in the number uric acid in blood. Which leads to so-called salt deposits, but in the tissues of the joint. The disease can affect more than one joint, but several, but usually this disease begins with joint pain. Then the disease spreads higher, but most often affects the belt lower limbs.
It is noted that a gout attack begins in most cases at night. The local temperature around the affected joint rises, and redness is noted in the area of the big toes. Then this leg area. Acute pain does not only appear in the big toes; the entire limb can also suffer, since the discomfort spreads further up the leg.
The active phase of gout does not last long, after a couple of days, sometimes weeks, the finger takes on its previous shape, and thumb my leg stops hurting.
Exacerbation of gout is difficult to predict, but there are factors that increase the likelihood of a recurrence of the painful sensation. This largely depends on diet, since the risk of feeling pain in the finger increases alcohol abuse and fatty foods, frequent use coffee, tea and cocoa.
Also, for people who have already encountered this problem, it is better to reduce bath procedures, since their excess can provoke the painful manifestation of gout. Typically, such attacks bother the patient 2-6 times a year, but this figure can fluctuate and everything depends primarily on the patient himself and his lifestyle.
Tophi can also indicate gout; seals that are located above the joint, on the Achilles tendons, may be on ears or a person's forehead.
Arthritis
This disease is when a person feels pain due to inflammation of the joints. It often occurs against the background of diseases such as psoriasis, lupus, rheumatism, and can occur due to impaired metabolism in tissues.
Most often, with this disease, pain manifests itself not in one leg, but in both. As for problems in the big toe area, it is a rare occurrence that the big toes are the only cause of pain due to arthritis. Typically, such a lesion affects several joints, so the foot, knee and other joints in the body may hurt.
The pain with arthritis is pronounced, and if with gout it is activated at night, then with arthritis it can hurt equally both during the day and at night. Also, the manifestation of painful sensations is not greatly influenced by a person’s rest or activity, as is often the case with other diseases.
Externally, the affected area swells and swells, the skin in this area changes color, it can even reach burgundy, and the local temperature may increase.
There are several varieties of this disease; as for the big toes, reactive arthritis is more typical for them.
Arthrosis
The disease is characterized by damage and destruction of the cartilage tissue that envelops the surface of the joint. In the first stages, the disease actively manifests itself with heavy physical exertion, and in its absence completely disappears. As they worsen, painful attacks appear more and more often and can appear at any time without a good reason, and also do not leave a person even at rest.
The most common cause of arthrosis of the big toes is wearing uncomfortable shoes; this is also the answer to the question why toes hurt more often in women.
In addition to high heels, shoes with pointed toes have a bad effect on foot health. These shoes are very narrow and uncomfortable, and the big toe bends to the side when worn.
If this disease is not treated in time, then not only adjacent toes, but also the entire foot can become deformed.
Bursitis
With bursitis, the joint capsule of the big toe becomes inflamed and fluid accumulates in this area, which is noticeable even externally. Essentially, the base of the big toe becomes inflamed, swelling and redness occur, and the person constantly feels heat in the area of the big toe.
It is important to check what could be causing the bursitis. If the cause is injury, then in addition to fluid accumulation, pathological microflora may appear. Accordingly, purulent bursitis may appear, and the patient’s condition will only be aggravated by general malaise.
Tendinitis
This disease does not affect the joint, nail or skin, tendonitis mainly affects the tendons. The structure of the foot and the location of the big toe immediately puts it at risk for this disease. This type of disease also affects neighboring fingers; accordingly, a person may experience pain when walking, and there may be unpleasant sensations when you try to feel the affected area. As with other diseases, the skin turns red, in some cases the patient feels a crunching sensation when he moves his finger.
Physical injuries
In addition to the so-called wear and tear of the joints, a person can break a finger. The toe bone is not very large in diameter; the toe itself is the outermost one in the row, therefore, like the little toe, it is more susceptible to injury.
When a finger is broken, the sensations will be varied: it may be a dull pain, after a little time a pulsation may occur, the finger may swell, bruises may appear, it all depends on the specific case. At first, the person will limp, since the pain does not allow him to fully step on his leg, but as he recovers, such sensations disappear over time.
There is a possibility that the fracture will be minor; there are cases when the patient does not even suspect that he has a fracture. But the pain will increase and sooner or later he will still have to see a doctor.
Osteomyelitis
A process that is accompanied by purulent-necrotic foci. Occurs primarily in bone marrow, but then spreads to the surrounding tissue. The cause is an infection that was brought in from outside. Alternatively, the penetration of microorganisms can become an open fracture.
This disease is dangerous because, unlike damage to cartilage, which occurs in one place, multiplying microorganisms poison the entire human body and intoxication occurs. The patient feels an increase in temperature, which can reach 40 degrees, nausea, possibly loss of consciousness, and vomiting.
The disease may progress to chronic form, and although the body’s condition improves, the mobility of the foot joints becomes minimal.
Ingrown nail
Although this problem can occur with any toe, it is more common in the big toe. This occurs due to wearing uncomfortable shoes, and occurs due to constant pressing of the nail plate into the finger.
An ingrown toenail can also appear if the nail plate is cut too much; there are many cases where people go too far in pursuit of perfectly trimmed nails. In such cases, the nail begins to grow not along its usual trajectory, but literally grows into the skin. Over time, it begins to prick and can tear the skin in the place where it grows. The throbbing pain is especially acute when a person has been walking in shoes for a long time. Constant pressure causes the finger to swell even more, and the nail digs in even more. After removing uncomfortable shoes, some relief is felt, but the site of injury does not immediately stop pulsating.
More problems arise if the toe torn by a nail becomes infected. A common condition, in addition to a piercing nail, will be redness and swelling, which increases after physical activity.
Incorrect foot position and deformation
People wonder what to do about thumb pain, but few realize that it could be avoided by following simple rules. The toe may become deformed due to improper foot position, when the load on the entire foot is uneven. This may be caused by walking incorrectly or wearing high-heeled shoes.
There is also a possibility of deformation occurring due to another disease. Due to flat feet, the metatarsophalangeal joint can be bent, so it is important, if you discover that you have flat feet, to immediately consult a doctor so that one disease does not become the cause of a number of other diseases.
Morton's neuroma
There is also an option when the pain is shooting in nature. With Morton's neuroma, the ligaments of the foot become inflamed, causing pain when strong pressure on my nerves. It feels like some kind of connective element in the foot is torn, and there is pain under the toes. The reason for this development of events can also be wearing high-heeled shoes.
Other diseases
There are diseases that cause the greatest discomfort, there are those that may manifest themselves only slightly, and pain in the finger only accompanies the primary cause of the disease. Pain in the finger can occur due to vascular diseases, diabetes, and even in case of fungal infections.
Treatment
What should you do first when one of the symptoms appears? First you need to see a doctor, he will help determine the real reason diseases. All diseases that can cause pain in the big toe are very similar, the symptoms are almost the same, so the slightest detail that you have not noticed can lead to an incorrect diagnosis.
To minimize the occurrence of these pains, it is worth taking preventive measures. You should wear comfortable shoes and avoid wearing high-heeled shoes. Keep your feet well-groomed and clean, massage your feet, use relaxing foot baths, and minimize the possibility of toe injury.
Do not try to determine the cause of the disease yourself, much less begin direct treatment.
Leg pain often bothers people who drive sedentary lifestyle life, have excess weight or cardiovascular diseases. The cause may also be chronic inflammatory processes in the body, which to one degree or another affect blood circulation in the lower extremities. Most often it hurts the thumb, which is most involved in motor activity and often exposed to injury and hypothermia.
Causes
The reasons why your big toe hurts can be very different and differ in symptoms that indicate the presence of more serious problems in the body. Most often, pain occurs at night and is the result of overwork, bruise or sprained ankle. An external factor causing pain in the thumb may be:
- Injury. This refers to any mechanical impact that leads to damage to the soft tissues and phalanx of the finger. Impact, bruise and pinching are accompanied by aching pain and redness turning into bruising. Wearing uncomfortable shoes also leads to injury to the first toe. Not only inflammation of the soft tissues under the nail develops, but also anatomical deformation of the phalanx. When wearing high-heeled shoes, it is not the cartilaginous joints and bones of the foot that are damaged by daily pressure from body weight.
- Ingrown nail. It appears when the rules of personal hygiene are not followed, when the nail plate grows into the soft tissue, which leads to the fact that the finger on the side of the nail hurts and festers.
- Corn. Its appearance on the left or right leg causes discomfort and interferes with normal movement. It can be wet or dry. Wet is an accumulation of fluid under a thin film of skin, which is easily removed and does not cause serious problems. But a dry callus requires more attention and timely treatment, since over time a hard core forms inside it, reaching the bone and causing severe pain. In this case, dry callus can only be cured surgically.
- Fungus. If the finger is swollen and the nail hurts when pressed, this is a sign of fungal development. It appears when reduced immunity and availability suitable conditions, such as wet shoes or dirty socks, from which bacteria get under the nails, where they receive an environment for development. Over time, the thumbnail begins to swell and become very painful when walking. The symptom of fungus under the nail is a strong, unpleasant odor. . This common reason the appearance of pain in the legs of athletes and dancers. It is caused by high stress on the joints, resulting in inflammation of the soft tissues and ligaments of the foot.
The appearance of pain in the big toe is caused not only by external, but also internal factors, signaling the presence of serious diseases in the body, such as:
- 1. Gout A. Dangerous disease, which occurs when uric acid accumulates in the body, which negatively affects joints and cartilage, causing inflammation. A characteristic manifestation diseases are pain during periods of rest and sleep.
- 2. Arthritis. This is largely an age-related disease, characterized by impaired blood supply to the extremities and the development of pathology of small joints and adjacent tissues. Leg pain is accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the lower back, neck, arm joints.
- 3. Arthrosis. The development of the disease manifests itself in deformation of the joints, which leads to limited mobility of the thumb when bending and thickening connective tissue. The pathology begins with the big toe, but if untreated it covers the entire foot, which threatens the patient with disability.
- 4. Diabetes. A serious disease manifested not only by pain in the big toe, but also by changes in the entire foot, both external and internal. Externally, changes manifest themselves in pale skin, the appearance of cracks in the feet, and swelling of the fingers. Internal disturbances refer to structural changes in soft tissues.
- 5. Hallux valgus deformity. Anatomical pathology, manifested in the formation of a bone growth on the side of the finger, which causes pain when walking, especially in tight and hard shoes.
Treatment
Any reason leading to the appearance of pain and swelling in the big toe requires timely and adequate treatment. This is especially important for diseases of the circulatory system that affect Negative influence for the whole body. In each case, treatment should be selected individually, taking into account the severity and nature of the pathology.
Injuries
Serious injuries to the thumb, such as a fracture, crack, dislocation, require immediate contact with a traumatologist and an x-ray. In this case, the main method of treatment is immobilization of the limb for a period of three weeks to one and a half months. If there is no bone damage, then to relieve pain and inflammation, they are prescribed various ointments local application, as well as painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs for oral administration.
Treatment folk remedies carried out using boiled onions, in the decoction of which a bandage is moistened and applied to the site of the bruise. To enhance the warming effect, it is better to wrap your foot in a towel or wear a warm sock. The procedure time is 30-40 minutes.
Ingrown nail
If the cause of pain in the thumb when pressing is an ingrown nail, then it will have to be removed. To carry out the procedure, you can contact a surgeon or cosmetologist. You cannot remove the nail yourself, as it may hurt blood vessels and pus will enter the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Removing a nail in a clinic takes no more than ten minutes and eliminates the risk of infection.
Ingrown nail
Fungus
The main way to combat fungus in the corner of the nail is to follow the rules of personal hygiene. Keeping shoes, underwear and feet clean will eliminate the likelihood of developing fungal diseases. This is also true for treatment, but in this case, antifungal and anti-inflammatory ointments and gels are additionally prescribed.
Fungus under the thumbnail
Corn
In most cases, treatment of calluses is ignored, which leads to infection and skin problems. Treatment for liquid callus is aimed at removing fluid that has accumulated under the skin. To do this, a puncture is performed with a sterile needle, after which the area is thoroughly cleaned and treated with an antiseptic. Treatment of dry callus, when a hard core forms inside, requires surgery. Only this method gives a lasting positive effect.
Eliminating calluses at home is also possible, but the procedure is extremely painful and gives a short-term effect, after which it requires repeating. To remove the hard core, you need to thoroughly steam the leg in hot water, preferably with the addition of essential oils. After this, you need to rub the callus with a dry towel, as a result of which the rod will partially rub off on the bone.
Gout
Treatment of this disease is carried out using anti-inflammatory, painkillers and antihistamines, the action of which is aimed at reducing the level of uric acid in the body. Nutrition is of no small importance. The patient must stop eating legumes, offal, canned food, red meat and other things. The diet is compiled individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the body and the presence of concomitant diseases.
What kind of pain is this?
Pain in the toes can occur with a variety of diseases:
Pain localized in the toes can occur due to various diseases:
- arthritis
- arthrosis
- vascular disorders.
Diseases characterized by pain in the toes
Arthritis as a cause of finger pain
Various arthritis are characterized by an inflammatory rhythm of pain (most often at 3-4 hours, at night), however, each arthritis has its own “favorite” fingers. For psoriatic and reactive arthritis, as well as gout (more common in men), pain in the big toe is most typical. The remaining toes may become inflamed (in various combinations and variants) for psoriatic arthritis (less commonly), or for rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthrosis
Arthrosis affecting the big toe is often colloquially called gout, however, this disease has nothing in common with gout. Despite the fact that with true gout, the big toe is most often affected by the disease, cases of gout are quite rare. Gout is most common in men, and arthrosis of the big toe is most common in women. The cause of arthrosis in women is prolonged wearing of shoes with narrow toes. The bone, which protrudes due to the deviation of the foot, is subject to unnecessary trauma (due to rubbing with shoes) and, gradually, becomes deformed. Subsequently, the entire joint is subject to deformation, becoming much wider than it should be. The motor capabilities of a deformed joint are significantly reduced. If no measures are taken, the finger is fixed in incorrect position and returning it to its normal position is almost impossible. Friction also causes bursitis (inflammation of the periarticular bursa): the joint becomes red and swollen, pain appears with any, even the slightest, touch. In addition, the big toe exerts pressure on the other toes, “pushing out” the second and third toes, as a result, the entire foot is deformed and to combat these consequences by using therapeutic methods- very hard.
Vascular disorders
The acquisition of a white tint by the toes (some or all at once), sometimes accompanied by pain in the toes, and especially as a result of physical activity (running, walking, climbing stairs, etc.), or during hypothermia, often indicates a disease of the blood vessels, and , to be more precise, the arteries of the legs.
Risk factors include belonging to male, age exceeding 30 years, presence of diabetes mellitus, smoking.
The main diseases characterized by this symptomatology are obliterating endarteritis and atherosclerosis of the arteries located in the lower extremities. Both diseases are characterized by disturbances in arterial blood flow, which results in insufficient delivery of nutrients and oxygen in the tissue.
These diseases are often accompanied by painful sensations in the legs (or in one leg), localized in the feet, legs, fingers, and so on. Depending on how clogged the blood vessels are, changes may occur in the skin (dryness, pallor), as well as in the nails (striations, brittleness). In addition, hair loss on the legs is possible (most noticeable in men), and increased sensitivity to low temperatures.
Morton's neuroma
The condition, called Morton's neuroma, is also known as plantar fasciitis. The pain is localized at the base of the fingers. Pain is caused by increased pressure on the nerve. This disease occurs five times more often among women than among men.
The chronic nature of the negative impact on the nerve causes it to thicken and increase sensitivity.
The main symptoms of plantar fasciitis are pain. Localization of pain is at the base of the second, third, or fourth toe. Carrying heavy objects, as well as walking, causes increased pain. The pain may radiate towards the calf or to other fingers.
Diabetes
Numbness in the feet and toes, as well as pain in the toes when walking, can be caused by diabetes. Often, with this diagnosis, there are complaints of a burning sensation in the feet, especially aggravated at night. This is evidence of vascular problems, as well as hyperactivity of nerve endings.
Ingrown nail
The most common occurrence of an ingrown toenail is the big toe. An ingrown toenail can be accompanied by severe pain, swelling, redness, and infection. Tight shoes, uneven or too short cutting of nails can lead to this problem.
Hardening
Calluses are growths of dead cells that harden and settle on the skin of the legs. Hardening can be localized on the heels, on the balls of the feet or on the big toe. There are hardenings that have a root that penetrates deeply into the skin and is called a core. This type hardening causes a lot of inconvenience to humans.
Typical complaints of patients with pain in the toes
- After wearing thin-soled shoes and driving in them, the next morning I felt pain in the ball of my left foot, as well as in the biggest toe of my left foot. Pain appears in the finger and in the pad of the finger when pressing on the pad of the finger, as well as when walking. On the fourth day, the pain intensified when walking. IN calm state nothing hurts;
- The lump on the big toe has been growing for 2 years now, the toe has stopped bending, the foot has grown in width... Constant pain in the finger;
- About 2 years ago for the first time, then more often, and now almost every day there is pain in the left foot, in the area of the second toe. There is a burning sensation and numbness, the fingertip has lost sensitivity. Blood pressure 110/80, Vegetative-vascular dystonia, well, I suspect osteochondrosis;
- Half a month ago my big toe started to hurt. After walking, a burning sensation appeared, and when I stepped, a clicking sound was heard;
- The big toe on my left foot began to go numb when I lie down and straighten my back;
- When I walk, the big toe of my right foot hurts. I walked in heels for a couple of weeks and everything went away, then I started wearing heels again and the pain appeared again;
- My toe (the big one near the nail on the right) has been hurting for a week now;
- The little toe on my foot hurts very much, it is swollen and there is fever in it. It's been 3 days already;
- This happened several times: first burning pain in the finger, then a bruise, which quickly went away;
- I noticed that after 30 minutes of walking my finger started to hurt, the pain became unbearable with every step, it felt like my finger was broken, but it didn’t even hurt anywhere, at first it hurt with certain shoes, now it hurts no matter what I walk in, even barefoot.
Medicines for pain in the toe
Before consulting a doctor and finding out the cause, you can use the following drugs(both in ointments-gels and tablets)
Any pain never pleases anyone, and pain in the legs does not please anyone either. Usually they say, where would we be without arms, but think for yourself, where would we be without legs? The importance of legs for a person can hardly be overestimated; let’s take for example the proverb “the legs feed the wolf.”
It is absolutely clear that folklore is metaphorical, so we are talking here not about predators, but about people - if you don’t run properly and don’t make an effort, then questions may arise with your livelihood. And if we're talking about not about the whole leg, but only about the toe, even the big one? Can pain in one single toe really matter?
Firstly, only someone who has never experienced such pain can doubt the perception of toe pain. So in this case it is better to take my word for it. Secondly, there is no doubt that if at least one toe hurts, then at least temporary lameness is guaranteed, and you can forget about fast walking, dancing and many other activities for now.
Toe
What are toes? On the one hand, this is the part of the human foot that is most distant in relation to the body. On the other hand, it is an essential part of the motor system, the importance of which is determined by nature itself. Why is it so important?
When walking, running and jumping (that is, during any movement), it is the toes that help the foot support the weight of the body; help maintain balance when the body changes its position, and at the same time the center of gravity changes; they also help when moving.
If a person is normal, healthy and has not received any foot injuries before, then such a person has five toes on each foot. The thumb is located with inside feet, it is also the widest. The toes have nail plates, just like the fingers, but the growth rate of fingernails is much faster - the nails on the toes grow much more slowly. There are soft pads on the toes on the inside of the foot.
In the process of evolution (we are talking about upright walking), the toes became less mobile than the fingers, and began to perform not grasping functions, but functions of supporting the weight of the whole body during walking and running. In addition, for the same reason, the big toes began to be located parallel to the other toes.
Each toe consists of several tubular bones called phalanges, and between the phalanges there are fairly mobile interphalangeal joints. The phalanx closest to the foot is connected through a joint with metatarsal bone feet.
That is, it becomes clear that there may be quite enough reasons for pain in the toe - there are bones, joints, tendons, blood vessels, nail plates, soft tissues. And if you consider that the toes are not a decorative element, but are quite functional, and receive a considerable load, then the likelihood of any injuries or diseases of this distal (remote) organ becomes clear.
Interestingly, the pads of the toes, like the pads of the fingers, have a unique pattern of concentric grooves. So a person can also be identified by fingerprints of the hind limbs.
Shoes as a cause of pain
If the shoes are incorrectly selected in size or fullness; if everyday shoes, in which a person can spend more than ten hours a day, have an excessively narrow toe or too high a heel; if the shoes are made of non-ecological materials and create the so-called greenhouse effect; if shoes are not collected necessary care, which should ensure not only external cleanliness, but also regular disinfection, then it is shoes that can cause pain (sometimes very severe) as a result of abrasions or calluses or as a result of injury to joints, and this condition can provoke others, and very serious illnesses, including injuries.
What to do? In this case, you should reconsider your shoes and avoid wearing pairs that are too small or too tight. Fashion for shoes changes very quickly, but fashion for healthy feet never goes away. Shoe care should be daily and thorough, including regular disinfection of the inner surface.
If the big toe hurts due to uncomfortable shoes, the shoes should be changed immediately, because as a result of constantly wearing uncomfortable shoes, the joint can be deformed. If abrasions appear on your foot, including your big toe, you should thoroughly wash your feet. warm water in the addition of soda, then gently blot with a dry cloth, and lubricate the abraded areas, including the thumb, with wound-healing agents.
Deforming osteoarthritis
Very often, big toe pain is caused by deforming osteoarthritis, that is, a degenerative disease in which the cartilage tissue of the joints is damaged.
Deforming osteoarthritis affects both large joints in the body (for example, the hip or knee) and small joints, for example, the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot.
When the disease just begins, the thumb hurts only after prolonged exercise (long walking). But when pathological process develops and osteoarthritis progresses, pain can persist and occur even at rest, which may well be evidence of joint destruction.
What to do? In this case, the doctor will most likely recommend limiting physical activity - walking a few kilometers is no longer suitable. It is likely that physical therapy will be prescribed to strengthen the muscles around the affected joint. Since such strengthening is simply necessary, then neglect classes physical therapy not worth it. The medications prescribed by the doctor will have to, firstly, stop the inflammatory process, and secondly, promote the restoration of cartilage tissue.
Is a visit to the doctor necessary? In this case, a visit to the doctor is mandatory, since it is impossible to establish a diagnosis on your own, and the prescription of medications often depends not only on the established disease, but also on concomitant conditions, on the general condition of the body, on lifestyle and on many other circumstances that can be correctly interpreted only qualified specialist. It is timely visit to the doctor and the beginning professional treatment can not only slow down, but also stop the course of the disease, that is, the joint can be saved.
Rheumatoid arthritis and big toe pain
Rheumatoid arthritis is autoimmune disease, which affects the small joints of the hands and feet. You can suspect rheumatoid arthritis by the fact that several small joints begin to hurt at once, that is, with rheumatoid arthritis, if not only one big toe hurts, pain will appear in some other small joints.
In addition, it appears morning stiffness: it seems that the whole body is numb, including the joints, and the hands seem to be wrapped in tight gloves; sometimes the feeling of a corset on the body is added.
What to do? For rheumatoid arthritis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors, glucocorticosteroids, and monoclonal antibodies are prescribed.
But all prescriptions should be made only by a doctor after a thorough examination and study of test results. Even with full confidence that the finger hurts precisely because rheumatoid arthritis, you should never self-medicate.
It should be remembered that this is an autoimmune disease, that is, the immune system is affected, and it is difficult even for specialists to treat the immune system, let alone self-prescriptions! Therefore, only a doctor can make the necessary appointments.
By the way, when treating rheumatoid arthritis, it is mandatory preventive actions to avoid destruction bone tissue, that is, the development of osteoporosis. Calcium and vitamin D3 supplements may be prescribed, but only on the basis of feasibility. The dose of such drugs is selected individually in each individual case.
Is a visit to the doctor necessary? If we are talking about a disease of the immune system, and this is exactly such a case, then a visit to the doctor and constant monitoring is mandatory. The immune system humans have not been fully studied, and it is extremely difficult to predict all reactions.
If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, even a complete recovery is possible.
However, if treatment is not carried out on time and in sufficient volume, it is possible further deformation joints. So in this case (as always), it’s better not to delay a visit to a specialist.
Leg injuries
Considering that the toes are made up of bones and ligaments, there is no doubt that the toes (including the big toe) can be injured. Most often, injuries to the big toe can include bruises, dislocations and fractures. The cause of such injuries can be a blow, an unsuccessful movement, or a heavy object falling on the leg. The bones of the toes are thin and the joints are small, so injuries are quite likely.
Sharp pain in a toe (or several toes), especially after a fall or blow, should immediately alert you. If there is reason to suspect a dislocation, fracture, bruise or damage to ligaments or tendons, then the mobility of the finger will be limited, the shape of the finger may change, the finger may turn red, swelling and even bleeding may appear.
A bruise on a finger in the event of an injury appears very quickly and just as quickly becomes almost black, and occupies a much larger area than the area of the injury itself.
What to do? In case of a toe injury, it is necessary to consult a doctor, and this must be done as quickly as possible. A dislocation needs to be adjusted and put back in place, a fracture or crack needs to be fixed - there are no options. Improper handling of a big toe injury can result in improper healing of the fracture. What if the fracture is displaced? What if the fracture resulted in fragments? How to treat an injury depends on the type of injury and the severity of the injury.
Is a visit to the doctor necessary? If we are talking about an injury, even if it’s just a big toe (like any other one), a visit to the doctor is mandatory, and the sooner the better. And even if this happened during non-working hours, you should remember that emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Of course, you can’t walk in this case, but in any case you need to call a taxi and immediately go to the emergency room, where it will be done immediately X-ray examination(x-ray), if necessary, adequate assistance will be provided, torn ligaments or other tissues that are damaged will be sewn up, the necessary bandage will be applied (the option of a plaster cast is not excluded). Wasting time in such cases is unacceptable - every minute counts.
With timely consultation with a doctor, injuries to the big toe are completely cured and disappear without a trace.
Gout (gouty arthritis) and pain in the big toe
Gout occurs as a result of a violation of uric acid metabolism in the body, and periodic exacerbations of gout can manifest as exacerbations gouty arthritis big toe.
This always happens unexpectedly and suddenly: severe pain, swelling (sometimes quite impressive), redness. If the swelling is felt, compactions can be found under the skin, which are explained by the location of crystals of uric acid salts under the skin.
What to do? If there is a suspicion that it is gout, then it is unrealistic to do without a doctor, since an acute gouty attack can only be stopped under conditions inpatient treatment. Naturally, treatment in a hospital is prescribed exclusively by a doctor. If you have gout, you must constantly remember the need special diet, compliance with which will help to avoid further exacerbations and attacks, or at least make them infrequent.
Is a visit to the doctor necessary? In the case of gout, not just a visit to the doctor is required, but hospitalization is required to relieve the exacerbation, and constant supervision by a doctor, because gout can only be controlled in this way. Self-treatment gout can result in a very quick return to the hospital ward, where you will have to stay even longer.
It is important to understand that gout is not completely curable, however healthy image life, following a special diet, and scrupulously following medical recommendations make it possible to control the course of this disease.
When dealing with gout, nutrition is very important. It is thanks to nutrition that remissions can be made longer. As a matter of fact, if gout is diagnosed as the main disease, then the conversation should rather not be about diet, but about changing lifestyle and eating habits.
Nutrition for gout should help normalize purine metabolism in the body, reduce the formation of uric acid and its salts, and also promote alkalinization of urine.
It is very important to forget about “snacks on the run” - four meals a day should become a mandatory norm. Neither the feeling of hunger nor the feeling of overeating is acceptable, because both of them can provoke a new attack. Excess weight is extremely undesirable, but under no circumstances should you suddenly lose weight - you can provoke a new attack.
If you have gout, it is important to drink enough fluids (at least two liters per day).
Gout excludes broths from the menu (including fish and mushroom); meat of young animals is completely excluded, offal is completely excluded, smoked meats, sauces, canned fish, caviar, fried and salty fish, cheeses, sausages, spices, legumes are also completely excluded. Under the strictest prohibition any alcohol, coffee, strong tea, chocolate, cream cakes, raspberries, grapes, figs.
So much for the big toe. All of the above restrictions apply specifically to the thumb.
Ingrown nail, or onychocryptosis on the big toe
It happens that the nail plate on the big toe grows into the skin. The pain can be very severe, the tissues become inflamed, reddened, and swelling appears.
What to do? If an ingrown toenail is treated correctly and as it should be, then this problem can be completely eliminated in a couple of weeks. However, only a surgeon can deal with an ingrown toenail. So, if you notice an ingrown toenail on your big toe, there is only one thing you can do - immediately go to the doctor.
Is a visit to the doctor necessary? The absence of recurrence of the disease, whatever you call it, be it onychocryptosis or an ingrown toenail, can only guarantee correct and timely surgical intervention. Independent attempts to deal with the problem entail chronic condition process, and sometimes infection. So in this case, you won’t be able to bypass the doctor, especially since you need a surgeon.
Complaints about the so-called bunions on the foot are very common, when the big toe deviates to the side and the bunion protrudes from the side. This problem is called hallux valgus and can develop if there is a genetic predisposition, endocrine disorders, flat feet or osteoporosis.
Hallux valgus deformity develops most often in middle-aged people; weak ligaments, bone defects, flat feet, endocrine diseases or osteoporosis contribute to this. Footwear can also be considered provoking factors. high heels, shoes with narrow toes, incorrectly selected shoes: the load on the foot is distributed unevenly, the body weight moves to the front of the foot, including the toes, so joint deformation and arthrosis develop.
Hallux valgus is dangerous not only due to unpleasant sensations and pain, the formation of calluses and corns, fatigue, but also the possibility of flat feet and the possibility of destruction of the heads of the bones.
What to do? If the bone has not yet grown much, that is, the disease is in one of the initial stages, then special valgus orthopedic structures can help: special insoles, interdigital silicone rollers, toe correctors.
Pain and inflammation can be reduced through massage, physical therapy and foot baths. However, you need to understand that any foot deformity, including big toe deformity, is the reason for a visit to an orthopedic doctor.
Is a visit to the doctor necessary? In the case of a “bunion,” that is, a hallux valgus deformity, a visit to the doctor is required because it is necessary to determine the degree of deformation, find out whether there are associated pathologies (inflammation of the joint, cysts, periosteum problems, osteoporosis), and try to determine the causes of the development deformities and understand whether it is possible to correct such deformities surgically.
Some modern techniques surgical intervention guarantee excellent results. But to determine the need for surgery and the required technique surgical intervention only a doctor can do it based on studying the results of clinical studies.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of reasons why pain in the big toe may bother you. This could be Morton's neuroma, or it could be atherosclerosis of the arteries of the legs, and obliterating endarteritis, in which blood circulation in the arteries of the legs is disrupted, and insufficient oxygen reaches the tissues.
Which doctor should I see if my big toe hurts?
If your toe hurts, you must see a doctor, unless your toes hurt because of uncomfortable shoes. However, we should not forget that constantly wearing uncomfortable and inappropriate shoes can cause not just pain, but also more serious problems.
Painful sensations in the big toe are a reason to consult a neurologist, since the pain may be neurological in nature; see a traumatologist if it is known that the pain arose as a result of injury; see an endocrinologist if it is necessary to confirm or exclude diseases of the endocrine system; see a surgeon if surgical treatment is necessary.
In addition, you may need the help of a radiologist, physiotherapist, exercise therapist, massage therapist and other specialists, to whom only the attending physician should refer.
Conclusions and reviews for big toe pain
Yes, it turns out that there are no small things in the body... And even what at first glance seems small, in fact an important part body. After all, in order to “walk like a caravel through the green hills”, so that you look back not with sympathy, but with delight, you cannot do without a big toe (as, indeed, without any other one), and without a healthy toe. Only healthy legs can guarantee an easy gait, tirelessness, and the admiration of others.
What was the cause of pain in your big toe and what did you do to get rid of the pain?
Pain in the toes can be caused by a number of disorders, among which are the following:
- gout;
- arthritis;
- arthrosis;
- bursitis;
- tendonitis;
- toe injuries;
- osteomyelitis;
- ingrown nail;
- hallux valgus;
- clubfoot;
- hammertoe deformity;
- calluses;
- Morton's neuroma;
- diabetes;
- circulatory failure;
- dermatological diseases.
Acute pain in the toes due to gout
Gout is a disease caused by a disorder of purine metabolism. It is characterized by an increase in the amount of uric acid in the blood, and deposits of its salts (urates) in the joint tissues.Typically, a gout attack begins with the appearance of pain in the joint of the big toe. As the disease develops, the pathological process can spread to an increasing number of joints - polyarthritis occurs. But most often, gout affects the joints of the lower extremities: knees, ankles, foot joints. And the most pronounced disorders and pain are observed in the joints of the toes.
Gout attacks begin mainly at night. This attack is characterized by a rapid increase in local temperature around the joint and its redness. Its swelling and pain quickly increases. An excruciating burning pain spreads from the toes up the leg. Inflammation can also affect soft tissues, forming the clinical picture of phlebitis or cellulite. Average duration Gout attacks last for several days and sometimes weeks. After the symptoms subside, the joint gradually acquires its normal shape.
With gout, exacerbations are observed from two to six times a year, and the factors that provoke the onset of an attack are:
- alcohol abuse;
- errors in the diet in the form of a large number of meat or fatty dishes;
- abuse of coffee, cocoa or strong tea;
- intensive bath procedures.
Pain in the joints of the toes due to arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic or acute inflammation of the joint and surrounding tissues. This pathology is one of the manifestations of any systemic connective tissue disease: - systemic lupus erythematosus;
- metabolic disorders;
- autoimmune pathologies.
Arthritic pain in an inflamed joint usually has a very pronounced intensity. It appears not only during movements, but also at rest. Severe swelling and swelling also occurs in arthritic joints. The skin over the inflamed areas acquires a red, purple tint, and the local temperature increases.
In addition to pain, symptoms of arthritis also include:
1.
Limitation of movements in the joint.
2.
Changes in its shape.
3.
Unnatural crunching noise under load.
At different types Arthritis pain develops in various fingers. For example, for psoriatic and reactive arthritis, damage to the big toes is more typical.
Pain in the joints of the toes with arthrosis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the joint that develops as a result of the destruction of cartilage tissue on articular surface. With this pathology, pain initially occurs periodically, only after physical activity, and quickly disappears with rest. But as the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain increases; it does not disappear after rest, and may appear at night.Signs of osteoarthritis are the following symptoms:
- morning stiffness;
- painful compactions at the edges of the joint space;
- restriction of movements in the joint;
- characteristic crunching sound when moving.
Osteoarthritis of the toes affects mainly women. The occurrence of the disease is provoked by wearing dress shoes with a pointed toe for many years. As a result, the thumb is deformed and curved towards the second finger. In addition, its bone begins to bulge, which rubs against the surface of the shoe, and over time also undergoes deformation. As a result, all joints of the big toe become bent and increase in size. This causes pain and limited mobility.
If arthrosis progresses, then the finger can change its original shape so much that it cannot be returned to its original position, even with significant physical effort.
Another complication of arthrosis of the big toe is that after it the second and third toes become deformed. The result is a combined foot deformity. In addition, due to constant friction and trauma to the joint of the 1st finger, bursitis develops in it.
Pain in the big toe due to bursitis
Inflammation of the joint capsule of the big toe with the accumulation of fluid (exudate) in its cavity is called bursitis. This pathology is characterized by swelling, pain, redness and heat in the area of the thumb.The main manifestation of bursitis is the presence of a mobile, round swelling in the area of the affected joint, which has a soft consistency. This swelling is quite painful to the touch and is easily identified visually.
In addition, the local temperature in the area of inflammation increases, and the skin acquires a purple tint. With a long course, bursitis can become chronic. In such cases, inflammation is accompanied by the deposition of calcium salts, which causes constant pain.
If the cause of bursitis was an injury to the big toe, then pathological microflora may also join the inflammatory process. Purulent bursitis occurs, and all symptoms become more pronounced:
- severe pain in the entire foot;
- promotion general temperature bodies;
- weakness;
Pain in big toes due to tendonitis
Tendonitis is a whole group of inflammatory tendon lesions. In the event that the process affects not only the tendon, but also the surrounding membranes, they speak of the occurrence of tenosynovitis. Ligamentous apparatus The big toe is susceptible to this disease due to its high morbidity. In addition, inflammation of the foot ligaments can cause pain not only in the big toe, but also in the rest of the toes.The main symptoms of tendinitis are:
- pain in toes when walking;
- relative painlessness with passive movements;
- pain when palpating along the inflamed tendons;
- fever and redness skin above the area of inflammation;
- determination of crepitus (crunching) when moving.
Toe injuries
Among toe injuries, fractures of the phalangeal bones are the most common. This is due to the fact that the phalanges of the fingers are poorly protected from external influences, and these bones themselves are small in diameter and do not have significant strength. Most often, the terminal phalanges of the 1st and 2nd toes are susceptible to fractures, since they protrude significantly forward compared to the rest. In case of a fracture of the phalanx of the toe in the first hours after the injury, the following are determined:
- pain at the fracture site when palpated;
- significant swelling;
- pain with passive finger movements;
- bruises on the lateral and dorsal surfaces.
Functional impairments with fractures of the II, III, IV and V toes may not be particularly noticeable. Therefore, at first the patient may not even suspect the presence of a fracture. Only after some time, when pain increases, does a person consult a doctor.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a purulent-necrotic process that occurs in the bone and bone marrow, affecting the surrounding soft tissue. The cause of this pathology is the penetration of microflora into the body that produces pus. Often, osteomyelitis in the toes develops as a complication of various bone pathologies, for example, with open fractures.Acute osteomyelitis begins with a sharp increase in body temperature to 39-40 o C.
The patient's condition is greatly deteriorating, which is due to increasing intoxication of the body. This disease also manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- sharp pain in the foot;
- headache;
- repeated vomiting;
- sometimes loss of consciousness and delirium;
- jaundice is possible.
When the disease becomes chronic, the patient’s well-being may improve somewhat, the severity of pain in the foot decreases, and the pain itself becomes aching character. Signs of intoxication in the body disappear, and body temperature returns to normal. Often, fistulas with scant purulent discharge form in the affected area. Several such fistulas can form a network of subcutaneous channels, which subsequently open on great distance from a pathological focus. Subsequently, persistent immobility of the foot joints and curvature of the toe bones occur.
Ingrown nail
The cause of pain in the toes may be nail rotation. The big toe is most susceptible to this pathology. The development of this disorder is provoked by wearing uncomfortable shoes, as well as cutting nails too short. Painful sensations can be quite intense. In addition, redness of the skin around the ingrown nail, swelling, and infection are typical.
Pain in the big toe joint due to valgus deformity
Hallux valgus is a curvature of the metatarsophalangeal joint in which the big toe deviates towards its neighbors. The main reason for the development of this disorder is flat feet and weakness of the tendon-ligamentous apparatus. Additional factors, contributing to the occurrence of hallux valgus, and accordingly increasing pain, is wearing narrow shoes or shoes with excessively high heels.Incorrect foot position
In such cases, the occurrence of pain in the toes is associated with disorders of the musculoskeletal system in the form of clubfoot of varying severity. Due to improper positioning of the foot when walking, the load on it is unevenly distributed. The thumb is gradually pushed outward and upward, displacing the rest along with it.Hammertoe deformity
The development of hammertoes is associated with flattening of the foot and increased pressure on it. Most often this occurs with flat feet. As the tendons in the arch of the foot try to stabilize the foot, the muscles responsible for the mobility of the toes are subject to additional stress. The fingers are pulled back and tucked, which leads to a significant protrusion of their joints. This leads to the development of hammertooth deformation. In addition, painful calluses quickly form on joints that protrude.
Deformed hammertoes rest on the shoe in various places and are subject to friction. Irritation occurs in areas where crooked toes touch the surface of the shoe. Continued irritation and friction may even lead to skin ulcerations in the affected area. As these deformities increase, it becomes more painful and difficult for the patient to move.
Calluses
The growths of dead cells that form dense hardenings on the skin are called calluses. In most cases, such growths occur on the balls of the toes, on the heels or on the lateral surfaces of the big toe. Often such hardening has a long base in the form of a root penetrating deeply into the tissue. Calluses are usually painless at rest, but have a pronounced pain intensity with exercise, walking and pressure on the affected area.Pain under the toes due to Morton's neuroma
Morton's neuroma, or plantar fasciitis- This is an inflammation of the foot's own ligaments. The cause of pain in this disease is too much pressure on the nerves that run along the arch of the foot. Women are susceptible to this pathology much more often than men, due to chronic microtrauma of the feet when wearing high-heeled shoes. Due to pinched nerves, traumatic neuritis develops. Inflammation wears chronic nature, which leads to constant pain under the toes.
Pain from this disease is usually localized at the base of the second, third and fourth toes. It tends to increase with prolonged walking and carrying heavy objects. In addition, it often radiates into the fingers themselves, as well as upward into the lower leg.
Diabetes mellitus
One of the common symptoms of diabetes is changes in sensation and pain in the toes that appear when walking. Also, with diabetes, a burning sensation in the feet is often observed, mainly at night. The cause of these conditions is poor circulation in the lower extremities and damage to nerve endings.Vascular diseases
Pain in the toes may be a manifestation of damage to the arterial vessels of the lower extremities. Common symptoms for such diseases are:1. Whitening of toes.
Pain during hypothermia.
Two main pathologies characterized by similar symptoms are obliterating endarteritis and atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities.
Endarteritis
Endarteritis is an inflammatory lesion of arterial vessels, which most often occurs in the lower extremities. A characteristic symptom of this disease is the so-called “intermittent claudication.” When walking begins, movements are relatively easy for the patient, but then pain, numbness and heaviness rapidly increase in the legs. All these symptoms disappear after a short rest, but appear again after the next few steps. In addition, endarteritis, as well as atherosclerotic lesions of the arteries of the lower extremities, is characterized by frequent sensation cold feet. Patients also often complain of cramps in the muscles of the legs.Atherosclerosis of the arteries
The cause of pain in the toes may be atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities. This pathology occurs when deposits cholesterol plaques on the inner surface of the walls of blood vessels. This disease is characterized by compaction vascular wall, which manifests itself as a feeling of squeezing pain in the muscles of the legs and feet. Pain increases when walking. In addition, a characteristic sign of atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities is the feeling of cold feet, regardless of the time of year.
Pain between the toes in dermatological pathologies
Pain in the toes, especially in the spaces between them, may be a consequence of dermatological diseases. Most often these are massive fungal infections of the feet.In addition to pain between the toes, similar disorders also appear:
- itching and burning on the skin of the foot;
- redness of the nails and changes in their shape;
- swelling of the fingertips;
- discoloration of the skin.
Treatment
Establishment correct diagnosis and the prescription of therapy is best left to a specialist. If you experience pain in your toes, you should consult a traumatologist, rheumatologist or dermatologist. The best measures you can take on your own are:- wearing comfortable, wide shoes with low heels;
- strict adherence to foot hygiene;
- preventing injuries and damage to the toes;
- periodic preventive measures in the form of foot baths or foot massage.
Which doctor should I contact if I have pain in my toes?
Pain in the toes is caused by a wide range of different diseases, and therefore this symptom turns out to be a reason to contact various medical specialists whose competence includes the diagnosis and treatment of the disease that provoked them. Thus, the answer to the question of which doctor to contact for pain in the toes depends on what kind of disease the person is supposed to have. And the assumption of the disease is based not only on pain in the toes, but also on the basis of other existing symptoms. Thus, it is obvious that the choice of doctor to consult in a particular case of toe pain depends on other symptoms the person has. Below we will indicate which doctors of specialties you should contact depending on the accompanying symptoms.
So, if a person is bothered by periodic attacks of pain in the toes (mainly at night), during which the joints of the fingers become red, swollen and hot to the touch, and the pain radiates up the leg, and such an attack lasts from several hours to weeks, and after After its completion, compactions (tophi) form over the joints, then gout is suspected. In this case, you must contact rheumatologist (make an appointment).
If a person is bothered by severe pain in any of the toes, which appears not only when moving, but is also present at rest, combined with edema, swelling, warming (the skin is hot to the touch), purple coloration of the skin in the area of pain, crunching during physical activity and limitation of movements in joint, then arthritis is suspected. In this case, you need to contact a rheumatologist.
When pain in the toes occurs periodically and always after physical activity, and after rest it can decrease or disappear altogether, combined with stiffness of the foot in the morning, crunching when moving, limited mobility and, possibly, deformation of the sore toe, then arthrosis is suspected. In this case, you must contact orthopedic traumatologist (make an appointment).
If pain in the toes is combined with symptoms of tendinitis (pain in the toes when walking and when feeling the tendons, crunching when moving, redness and hotness of the skin over the area of pain) or bursitis (swelling, pain, redness (purple skin) and hot skin in the area of the big finger, combined with soft swelling near the joint, and sometimes with pain in the entire foot, elevated body temperature, weakness and nausea), then you need to contact an orthopedic traumatologist.
If pain in the toes is felt after any traumatic impact on them (for example, a blow to a hard object, falling of a heavy object on the foot, compression of the foot by doors with automatic closing and opening, etc.), then you should consult an orthopedic traumatologist or, in his absence, to the general surgeon (make an appointment).
If pain in the toes occurs against the background of a sharp increase in body temperature to 39 - 40 o C, it is combined with sharp pain in the entire foot (sometimes also in the lower leg), swelling and purple coloration of the skin of the foot and lower leg, with the inability to move the toes, chills, vomiting, headache, possibly yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera of the eyes, loss of consciousness, and after a while the pain subsides, general state improves, but fistulas form, from which pus flows, then osteomyelitis is suspected. In this case, you need to contact either an orthopedic traumatologist or a surgeon.
If the pain in any toe (usually the big toe) is intense and is combined with redness of the skin and swelling in the area of the edge of the nail, then an ingrown nail is suspected, and in this case it is necessary to simultaneously contact dermatologist (make an appointment) and a surgeon. A dermatologist will deal with conservative treatment(without surgery) of an ingrown toenail, but if this is not possible, he will refer you to a surgeon to remove it. If a person does not want to treat an ingrown toenail non-surgical methods, but wants to remove it surgically, then you can immediately contact a surgeon.
If pain in the finger area is associated with a callus, then you should consult a dermatologist.
If pain in the toes is caused by hallux valgus (the big toe is inclined towards the other toes and a “bunion” protrudes from the side of the foot), clubfoot or hammertoes (bent toes with severe protrusion of the joints), then you should contact orthopedic doctor (make an appointment).
When a person has constant pain under the second, third and fourth toes, aggravated by walking and squeezing the foot, radiating to the fingers and lower leg - Morton's neuroma is suspected, and in this case you should contact neurologist (make an appointment), traumatologist or podiatrist (make an appointment).
If a person suffers from pain and loss of sensitivity in the toes, felt when walking, which is combined with a burning sensation in the feet, constant thirst, copious and frequent urination, increased appetite, sweating, then diabetes mellitus is suspected. In this case, you must contact endocrinologist (make an appointment).
When, in addition to pain in the toes, a person is bothered by signs of “intermittent claudication” (pain, numbness and heaviness in the legs that occurs some time after starting to walk, forcing the person to stop to wait out the pain, and only then continue moving again) or atherosclerosis vessels of the legs (squeezing pain in the muscles of the legs and feet, feeling of cold feet in any weather), then you should contact Angiologist (make an appointment), vascular surgeon(sign up) or phlebologist (make an appointment). If it is impossible to get to these specialists for any reason, then you should contact a general surgeon.
When a person is bothered by pain in the toes and interdigital spaces in combination with itching and burning, redness of the nails and changes in their shape, swelling of the fingertips, abnormal skin coloring in certain areas of the foot, then a fungal disease is suspected, and in this case it is necessary to consult a doctor - dermatologist.
What tests and examinations can a doctor prescribe for pain in your toes?
Since pain in the toes is provoked by various pathologies, in each case this symptom the doctor can prescribe various tests and examinations that he selects depending on the suspected disease. Accordingly, the list of examinations will always depend on the presumptive diagnosis, which is made by the doctor based on other symptoms the person has, in addition to pain. Therefore, below we will indicate what tests and examinations a doctor can prescribe for pain in the toes, depending on what other symptoms it is combined with.When pain occurs occasionally in the toes, combined with redness, swelling and warmth (the toes are hot to the touch), radiating up the leg, lasting for several hours or weeks, and after several painful attacks leading to the formation of seals (tophi) over the joints fingers, then gout is suspected. In this case, the doctor prescribes the following tests and examinations:
- General blood test (sign up);
- Biochemical blood test (sign up)(uric acid, total protein, protein fractions, seromucoid, fibrin, sialic acids, haptoglobin, bilirubin (sign up), urea, creatinine, cholesterol, AST, ALT, amylase);
- X-ray of joints (sign up);
- Puncture of inflamed joints with microscopic examination and bacteriological culture (sign up) joint fluid;
- Puncture of tophi with microscopic examination of the contents;
- Kidney ultrasound (sign up).
When severe pain is felt in any of the toes, both at rest and during movement, combined with swelling, swelling, warming (the skin is hot to the touch), purplish coloration of the skin in the area of pain, crunching during physical activity and limitation of movements in the joint - the doctor suspects arthritis, and in this case prescribes the following tests and examinations:
- General blood analysis;
- Blood test for rheumatoid factor (sign up) And C-reactive protein;
- Biochemical blood test (total protein, protein fractions, seromucoid, sialic acids);
- Blood test for the concentration of immunoglobulins IgG, IgA (sign up);
- Blood test for circulating immune complexes (CIC);
- Magnifying X-ray of the foot (make an appointment);
- Ultrasound of the foot (sign up);
- Tomography (computer and magnetic resonance imaging) of the foot;
- Foot thermography;
- Scintigraphy of the foot;
- Joint puncture (make an appointment) brushes with analysis of intra-articular fluid.
But if blood tests are not normal (increased ESR, the amount of seromucoid, sialic acids, CICs, immunoglobulins, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor), then we are talking about arthritis, and in this case, depending on the test results, the doctor prescribes the following examinations: necessary to make a correct final diagnosis. So, if an increased concentration of immunoglobulins and CICs is detected against the background of the absence of rheumatic factor, then the doctor diagnoses non-rheumatoid arthritis, and to assess the condition of the joint tissues and the nature of inflammation prescribes x-ray (sign up) and analysis of intra-articular fluid obtained by puncture. If technically possible, then x-rays are replaced by computed tomography, as it provides somewhat more information.
If the presence of C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor is detected in the blood, then the doctor diagnoses rheumatoid arthritis, and prescribes x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging and puncture of the joint fluid, followed by its analysis, to assess the condition of the joint and the nature of inflammation.
For rheumatoid and non-rheumatoid arthritis as a method additional diagnostics may be assigned Ultrasound (sign up), which allows you to identify effusion in the joint cavity and assess the severity of pathological changes in the tissues surrounding the joint. If you need to evaluate activity inflammatory process and the reaction of bone tissue to it, then scintigraphy is prescribed. And thermography is considered as only an additional method of arthritis itself, since it allows you to record the increase in body temperature in the area of diseased joints, characteristic of the pathology.
If pain in the toes is felt periodically, and their appearance or intensification is provoked physical activity, and after rest they decrease or disappear, are combined with a crunching sound when moving, limited mobility and, possibly, deformation of sore fingers, then the doctor suspects arthrosis of the joints, and in this case prescribes the following tests and examinations:
- General blood analysis;
- Blood test for C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor;
- X-ray of the foot;
- Ultrasound of the foot;
- Computed tomography of the foot;
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the foot (sign up).
When pain in the toes indicates tendonitis (pain is felt when walking and feeling the tendons, a characteristic crunch is heard when moving the toes, the skin in the area of pain is red and hot) or bursitis (there is swelling and pain in the area of the big toe, the skin is hot and purple, about joint of the big toe, a soft and painful swelling is visible when palpated, sometimes there is pain in the entire foot, elevated temperature body, weakness and nausea) - the doctor prescribes x-rays and ultrasound. X-rays in such cases are necessary to exclude bone fractures, and ultrasound is necessary to assess the condition and severity of inflammation in the tendons and articular capsule, as well as to distinguish bursitis from tendonitis. If technically possible, magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed in addition to ultrasound.
When pain in the toes appears after any injury (for example, a blow to a hard object, falling of a heavy object on the leg, compression of the foot by doors with automatic closing and opening, etc.), the doctor will definitely perform an examination and prescribe an x-ray to identify possible fractures bones. If no fractures are detected, then an x-ray may be ordered to assess the extent of pathological changes in the soft tissues. Other examinations for traumatic pain in the toes are usually not prescribed, since this is not necessary.
When pain in the toes occurs against the background of a sharp increase in body temperature to 39 - 40 o C, it is combined with sharp pain in the entire foot (sometimes also in the lower leg), swelling and purple coloration of the skin of the foot and lower leg, with the inability to move the toes, chills, vomiting , headache, but after a while the pain subsides, the general condition improves, but fistulas form with the leakage of purulent contents, then the doctor suspects osteomyelitis and prescribes an x-ray to confirm the diagnosis. If technically possible, then X-rays are replaced with computed tomography, which gives more full information. If it is also necessary to evaluate the condition of the soft tissues of the foot and the degree of their involvement in the pathological process, then magnetic resonance imaging or, if tomography is not available, a simple ultrasound is prescribed. If there are fistulas, then it is prescribed fistulography (sign up) to determine their location, length, communication with the bone, etc.
When pain in one toe (usually the big toe) is severe, combined with redness and swelling of the skin in the area of pain and localized at the edge of the nail, an ingrown toenail is suspected. In this case, the doctor does not prescribe any tests or examinations, but only performs an examination, based on which the diagnosis is already obvious.
When pain on the toe is caused by a callus, the doctor examines it, presses on it and twists it to distinguish the callus from a plantar wart, Morton's disease, etc. The diagnosis is made based on the examination; additional examinations are not prescribed.
When pain in the toes is associated with hallux valgus (the big toe is inclined towards the other toes and there is a “bunion” protruding from the side of the foot), clubfoot or hammertoes (bent toes with severe protrusion of the joints), the doctor diagnoses the disease based on an external examination. However, to evaluate the condition of the joints, bones and measure different sizes of the foot, the doctor may order an x-ray, plantography (sign up) and podometry.
If the pain is localized under the second, third and fourth toes, is constantly present, intensifies when walking and squeezing the foot, radiates to the fingers and lower leg, then Morton's neuroma is suspected, and in this case the doctor prescribes the following examinations:
- X-ray of the foot;
- Ultrasound of the foot;
- Magnetic resonance imaging (sign up).
When, when walking, a person suffers from pain in the fingers and impaired sensitivity in them, which is combined with a burning sensation in the soles, severe thirst, profuse and frequent urination, increased appetite, sweating, a feeling of dry mucous membranes - the doctor suspects diabetes mellitus and prescribes the following tests and examinations:
- Determination of blood glucose concentration (sign up) on an empty stomach;
- Determination of glucose in urine;
- Determination of the level of glycosylated hemoglobin in the blood;
- Determination of the level of C-peptide and insulin in the blood;
- Glucose tolerance test (sign up);
- Ultrasound of the kidneys;
- Rheoencephalography (sign up);
- Rheovasography (sign up) leg vessels.
If pain in the toes is combined with signs of endarteritis (while walking, severe pain, numbness and heaviness appear in the legs, so the person must stop and wait until the pain calms down, and only then can he continue to move) or atherosclerosis of the blood vessels of the legs ( there is always squeezing pain in the muscles of the legs or feet, and the feet are cold in any weather), then the doctor prescribes the following tests and examinations:
- Listening to heart sounds with a stethoscope (sign up);
- Measurement blood pressure(sign up);
- Determination of pulsation of leg arteries with hands;
- Biochemical blood test (cholesterol, triglycerides, high and low density lipoproteins);
- Arteriography of blood vessels;
- Angiography (magnetic resonance or multislice tomographic method) (sign up);
- Ultrasound of vessels of the extremities (sign up);
- Dopplerography of the vessels of the extremities (sign up);
- Rheovasography of the extremities (to assess blood flow speed);
- Thermography;
- Capillaroscopy (sign up);
- Functional tests (sign up)(thermometric, Goldflam, Shamova, paranephric or paravertebral blockade of the lumbar ganglia).
If a person suffers from pain in the toes and interdigital spaces, which are combined with itching and burning, redness of the nails, changes in the shape of the nails, swelling of the fingertips, changes in the normal color of the skin on the foot, then it is suspected fungal infection, and in this case the doctor prescribes the following tests and examinations:
- Dermatoscopy (sign up);
- Examination of the affected areas under a Wood's lamp;
- Determination of skin pH;
- Microscopy of skin and nail scrapings;
- Sowing scrapings from skin and nails onto nutrient media.
