Big Toe Pain

Big Toe Pain Treatment

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 u sed 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.

Big Toe Pain

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 time. 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.

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Big Toe Pain Joint

Common Big Toe Pain Joint

Feet and toes are abused daily and taken for granted until a problem comes up causing you to focus your attention to the problem area. Common problems include dryness, redness and cracking which can be attributed to improper care and poor maintenance. If you are suffering from joint pain and swelling of the big toe, it could be the common bunion.

Symptoms of Big Toe Pain Joint

Bunions are areas of the big toe that can become red and sensitive. Usually the symptoms develop over a period of time and can manifest themselves like:

o The base of the Big toe is swollen and irritated
o The toe is abnormally bent toward the inside of the foot toward the smaller toes.
o The toe is red and can be painful at the joint base.

Usually this is the result of wearing high heeled shoes if you have narrow toes. Common padding can be used to help relief pain, irritation and potential infection, but surgery may be necessary to re-align the toe to the proper position. Bunions can occur in one or both feet.

Big Toe Pain Joint

Gout is a form of arthritis and can be felt as an immediate sharp pain in the big toe without notice. You can awake with twinges of pain and soreness in your big toe without knowing the cause. The pain may last for several days and go away but the condition can re-surface at any time as you grow older.

Over 2 million people in the U.S. alone deal with gout and most often it afflicts men more than women. Gout usually develops in men over 30 and can be more likely to occur if overweight and diagnosed with high blood pressure. Women can suffer from gout, but usually post menopausal women are affected more. Gout most likely affects the big toe first,but can cause issues in wrists, knees and other joints.

In summary, proper sizing of your footwear is important in keeping your feet healthy from issues like bunions. Bunions are preventable where gout is a more serious issue to contend with. If you are dealing with joint pain and swelling in your big toe, your shoes may be the root cause of Big Toe Pain Joint.

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Big Toe Pain When Walking

Causes of Big Toe Pain When Walking

Ankle is a hinged joint connecting the foot with the leg, bounded by strong ligaments, tendons and muscles. It enables the foot to move in two main directions: away from the body (plantar flexion) and towards the body (dorsiflexion). Sharp pain in ankle when walking is mainly due to an ankle sprain or a twist in the ankle, which is nothing but an injury or a small tear in the ligaments connecting the bones to one another. The most common symptoms of ankle pain are swelling and bruising, which make them extremely difficult to bear weight on the joint. Sharp pain in ankles when walking can also be due to the rupture or damage of other structures in the ankle, like the tendons (which join muscles to bone), cartilage (which cushions joints), and blood vessels. In some cases, the pain may also spread to the adjacent areas like the foot, lower leg, knee, and even hip. Read more on sprains and strains.

Symptoms of Big Toe Pain When Walking

Along with ankle sprains and injuries, other causes for ankle pain when walking are:

  • Gout: Gout is a painful inflammation of the big toe and foot caused by defects in uric acid metabolism or too much production of uric acid in the body. This extra uric acid gets deposited in the form of crystals or salts in the joints and blood, instead of being excreted in the urine.
  • Pseudogout: It's a kind of arthritis characterized by sudden and intense painful swelling in one or more of the joints, triggered by crystals in the joint lining. Being similar to gout, it mainly occurs in elder people and commonly affects the large joints of our extremities.
  • Osteoarthritis: It's the most common joint disorder in which the cushioning between the bones called cartilage wears away in the joints. As osteoarthritis gets worse, the cartilage disappears and bone rubs on bone, causing loosening and weakening of the muscles and ligaments.
  • Psoriatic Arthritis: It's a type of arthritis which is often related to psoriasis of the skin. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by dry red patches covered with scales on the body. The arthritis may be mild and involve only a few joints, especially at the end of the fingers or toes, causing joint swelling and skin soreness.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: It's a type of arthritis which causes long term inflammation of the joints and the surrounding tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, i.e. the body's immune system confuses healthy tissues for foreign bodies, and so the body attacks itself.
  • Septic Arthritis: It's an inflammation of a joint due to bacterial invasion which grows when the bacteria get transported from a source of infection through the bloodstream to a joint, or when the joint is directly infected by traumatic penetration or surgical procedures. Septic arthritis causes symptoms like joint swelling, intense joint pain and low-grade fever.

Read more on what causes swollen ankles.

Treatment of Big Toe Pain When Walking

Treatment for ankle pain mainly involves simple home care and remedies. Rest for few days, don't move the affected area and avoid putting weight on it. If the ankle is unstable, support it by crutches or a cane while standing or walking to keep the weight off the ankle. If there is swelling in the foot, keep it raised above the level of the heart. Applying ACE bandages or keeping ice over the affected area for 10 - 15 minutes every day will also help to relieve the pain and swelling. Read more on swollen ankle treatment.

For intense pain or swelling, you can also have some over the counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to alleviate the discomfort and uneasiness. But if you still experience ankle pain when walking, it recommended to consult a doctor for diagnosis and necessary treatment of Big Toe Pain When Walking.

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Big Toe Pain Running

Big Toe Pain Running Symptoms

Joint pain in the big toe is a common complaint during old age. People playing contact sports like rugby and football often experience big toe joint pain and swelling. Lack of rest or overuse of the feet are some of the common reasons behind big toe joint pain when walking. However, such a type of pain is not a cause of worry and goes away without any treatment.

Big Toe Pain Running Causes

What causes persistent big toe joint pain when running? Why the big toe becomes painful even during a simple walk? Following are the reasons:

Hallux Rigidus
Also, referred as arthritis of the big toe, this condition is typically seen in the joint located in the ball of the foot. There are two joints found at the base of the toe and arthritis affects the larger joint. This joint connects the foot bone with the bone of the big toe. Besides, restricting the normal movement of the big toe, radiating pain from the affected toe is also experienced while walking or standing. This condition occurs in older people and is the result of wear and tear of joints.

Our joints are exposed to varying pressure during our day-to-day activities. Over time, this can have a negative impact on the joint strength. Joints are points, where two bones meet. At the end of each bone there is a covering of tough elastic tissue, known as cartilage. It prevents friction between bones. In arthritis, the cartilage gets eroded, leading to inflammation of the joints. When arthritis affects the big toe, it brings joint stiffness. The patient's inability to move the toe is distinctly visible. Swelling on the top of the big toe joint in the form of bony bump is also seen due to the development of hallux rigidus.

Bunions
Protrusion of a bony structure near the side of the big toe, is referred as bunions. The enlargement of the bony structure that make the big toe inclined, is the result of inflammation of the bursa (a fluid filled sac that prevents rubbing between the bone and the tendons). A bump like appearance near the large toe joint is seen in people suffering from bunions. The skin around the bumpy area appears red and can cause considerably difficulty while moving the toe. Read more on bunion pain relief.

Injury
Injury to the big toe joint can also cause swelling and pain, thus limiting toe motion. Damage to the big toe joint predisposes a person to toe arthritis. Injury may damage the structure of the toe bone, which may lead to hallux rigidus. Sports like football, where in kicking the ball puts tremendous pressure on the foot, can bring joint problems in the big toe.

Big Toe Pain Running

Different treatment options exist to overcome this discomfort associated with big toe joint. Application of ice cubes on the affected part of the body can help to alleviate pain. Other treatment methods are given below:

Heat Therapy
A conservative form of treatment involves putting the affected area in a tub containing moderately hot water. This procedure can also help to relieve the pain associated with big toe joint.

MedicationsMedicines that act as pain relievers for toe joint problems are ibuprofen. This is an anti-inflammatory drug that can work miracles to decrease the pain substantially.

Corticosteroids
When big toe joint pain does not respond to ibuprofen, corticosteroids injections may be administered to reduce the pain.

Buy Proper Footwear
Wearing the right shoes is necessary to manage the pain effectively. Shoes that have a small toe box will only contribute in worsening the pain. Purchasing shoes with a wide toe box, would certainly be a comfortable option. Shoes having thin soles can also worsen the pain. Thick soled shoes can help to reduce the strain on the big toe, while walking. Insertion of orthotic arch support is another shoe modification that can be helpful to decrease the discomfort.

Surgery
In case of bunions, surgical procedure involves, realigning or removing the affected bone structure. This may help to resolve the issue. For hallux rigidus, it all depends on the severity of the arthritis. A surgical procedure known as cheilectomy is commonly used in which the protruding bump is cut to restore movement of the big toe. In severe cases, few more bone cuts (osteotomy) are made to improve movement.

On the whole, treating the underlying cause of big toe joint pain at the right time is the key to normalize the function of the big toe. Taking necessary precautions such as staying away from ill-fitting shoes is a pre-requisite to alleviate the discomfort for Big Toe Pain Running.

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Big Toe Pain Causes

Big Toe Pain Causes Sypmtoms

Big toe pain is a common symptom of a number of conditions affecting the joints and bones. Pain is often intermittent; with sufferers putting off a visit to a doctor, due to only low level pain and discomfort. However, many of the conditions affecting the big toe are degenerative, with early treatment vital to limit the destruction and prevent later, more serious painful episodes from occurring. With a delayed diagnosis and treatment program, the healing process takes considerably longer, and a full recovery may not be possible without surgical intervention.

Big Toe Pain Causes Treatment Program

Bunions are one of the commonest causes of big toe pain and occur when the metatarsal head on the first toe is displaced outwards. The characteristic bony lump is often formed by excess bone forming in response to pressure on the joint of the toe. The fluid filled sac - bursa - around the joint can become inflamed and swollen, causing the area to become hot and tender, inflamed and sore. The inflammation can be controlled and the pain relieved, however corrective footwear and orthotics are commonly recommended with a range of home treatment programs to speed up the recovery process. However many people confuse bunions with another condition affecting the same joint on the big toe, hallus rigidis.

Hallus rigidis also affects the first joint at the base of the big toe. The condition causes increased rigidity in the toe and will greatly reduce movement over time. It can also be accompanied by the relocation of the metatarsal head, giving a similar appearance to a bunion. Hallux rigidis is a form of osteoarthritis, and is a wear injury with the joint degrading over time causing the bones to lock together. As cartilage is destroyed, the toe ceases to move naturally. Rheumatoid arthritis also affects the big toe, destroying the joint as the immune system turns against the body. The condition is also usually accompanied by swelling and pain.

Big Toe Pain Causes

A stress fracture foot diagnosis is common, and whilst most cases affect the heel and the top of the foot, the toes can also fracture, especially when muscles are fatigued and the feet cannot respond adequately to the forces of walking and running. Rest and recovery is the most common treatment, although toe surgery may be required for more serious toe trauma cases.

Also affecting the joints in the big toe, although by a quite different method, is gout. Sufferers of the condition have difficulty dealing with uric acid, and high blood concentrations lead to uric acid entering the joints and crystallizing, causing intense toe pain. Painful episodes can be prevented, and pain, swelling and inflammation treated. Many of the treatment programs are aimed at lifestyle changes, restricting certain foods and beverages and reducing the salt intake. The condition is often inherited, although less commonly, can be the result of a purine rich diet for Big Toe Pain Causes.

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