Can big toe pain be dangerous and what to do about it?

Leg pain is a common and unsafe complaint. As a rule, this is one of the symptoms of an illness, the presence of which can only be determined by a specialist. And if it’s just your big toe that hurts, is it worth calling the doctor off “for nothing”?

However, it happens that incomprehensible and at first glance “trifling” pain in the finger progresses, and then leads to temporary or permanent lameness. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at its causes and determining whether it is worth worrying about.

Why does my big toe hurt?

The huge number of factors that can cause pain in the big toe does not allow us to consider all of them in detail, but it is advisable to know the most common causes.

Gout

The main cause of the “aristocratic” disease is a violation of proper metabolism. Crystals of uric acid derivatives of sodium urate are deposited in the joints and gradually lead to its destruction. As a rule, an attack of gouty arthritis begins with a sharp pressing pain, often at night. At first, the big toe of the lower limb hurts excruciatingly, then the accompanying symptoms rapidly increase – redness of the skin around the joint, tissue swelling, increased temperature in the affected area, pain spreading up the leg.

During the day it seems to be a little easier, but at night the unbearable pain returns with renewed vigor. The inflammatory process can cause suffering for several days and even weeks in a row. Exacerbations of gout are possible up to several times during the year; their main causes are:

• alcohol abuse;
• the presence of too many fatty foods on the menu;
• passion for strong tea and coffee.

From frequent attacks gout, as we see, cannot be eliminated without following a proper diet. People of strong stature suffer from the disease more often, usually after forty years. Other joints can also become the target of gout attack.

Arthrosis

The disease often plagues beautiful ladies and is evidence of their defeat in an unequal duel with capricious fashion. Wanting to keep up with the rapid pace of the latter, the women courageously squeeze into narrow-toed high-heeled shoes and with a sweet smile endure many hours of inconvenience and merciless squeezing of their toes. The result is curvature of the thumb, the appearance of an unaesthetic “bone” and deformation of the joint. A periodically occurring inflammatory process leads to an increase in the problem: the thumb hurts more and more noticeably – first only after a long walk, and later at rest.

Ingrown nail

Uncomfortable shoes can cause another problem – ingrown toenails. In addition to tight shoes, this can also be caused by cutting your nails too short and improperly rounding their edges. In this case The toe, usually the big one, hurts severely, the skin around the nail is red and swollen, and pus accumulates inside. It is unlikely that you will be able to cope with the problem on your own; you need to immediately contact a specialist.

Morton’s neuroma

The disease occurs due to the degeneration of fibrous tissue and its significant thickening as a result of wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes, excessive loads on the feet, injuries and flat feet. The source of pain usually occurs at the level of the fourth and third fingers, but the big one also suffers. The pain is felt at the base of the toes and affects only one leg. It occurs due to pinching of certain nerve endings, gradually intensifies and makes even simple walking impossible.

Injuries

The most common fractures of the terminal phalanges of the thumb occur. The following signs confirm the injury in the first hours after the incident:

• the finger hurts even with passive movement;
• there is swelling;
• bruises on the back and side surfaces of the finger;
• When palpated, there is pain.

If the nail bed is damaged, there is a high possibility of infection.

Bursitis

Movable, soft and round swelling around the joint, the purple color of the “flaming” skin and palpable pain – these are the main manifestations of inflammation of the joint capsule called bursitis. If it appears as a result of injury, then infection may be present. Bursitis becomes purulent, and the following are added to the initial symptoms:

• weakness and nausea;
• headache;
• increased body temperature;
• unbearable pain all over the foot.

The thumb hurts “in the company” of smaller brothers and with other diseases, including:

• inflammation of arterial vessels;
• diabetes;
• deformation and incorrect position of the foot;
• tendon damage.

Treatment – is it possible to cope with the problem on your own?

If you experience pain in your big toe, you should definitely contact a specialist – a traumatologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist or surgeon. Trying to cope with the problem on your own without knowing the diagnosis can only make it worse. In the case where a finger hurts in the joint area, the doctor prescribes a full examination to determine the root cause. During the procedure, you should limit the load on your toes and feet as much as possible.

Whatever the cause of the pain, treatment should begin with an impact on the underlying ailment. For example, if you have gout, the doctor recommends eliminating fatty foods from your diet; if you have diabetes, you should control your body weight. A surgeon or specialist from the podiatry department will help you get rid of an ingrown toenail, but after an injury you need to seek help from a traumatologist.

If the joint is deformed and a bone has formed, folk remedies and special fixatives will help in the initial stage. Quite effective execution special exerciseswhich are recommended to be performed at least once a day, repeating each of them 5-6 times:

• stretch a regular elastic band with your big toes;
• try to lift small objects from the floor with your feet;
• sitting on a chair, place your feet on your heels and forcefully spread your toes;
• in a lying position, vigorously straighten and bend your fingers.

A small soft roller inserted between the thumb and second finger at every opportunity will help gradually return the “lost” finger to its usual place.

If treatment is ineffective and the deformity is pronounced, surgical intervention is indicated. Modern methods of surgical treatment preserve the functionality and mobility of joints. The rehabilitation period lasts 1-2 months, during which the doctor recommends specialized shoes to avoid stress on the foot. Before deciding to have surgery, carefully select a clinic. Success depends on the professionalism of doctors and the reliability of the medical institution.

Treatment with folk remedies

In some cases, when your big toe hurts, you can use the simple secrets of traditional medicine. However, this should not be an alternative to the treatment prescribed by the doctor:

1. For severe bruises of the thumb, onion gruel will help. Fresh leaves of plantain or wormwood and thistle will also relieve pain.
2. If the culprit of the pain is diabetes, tincture of celery root and a decoction of walnut partitions will be effective.
3. If the pain is caused by gout, compresses made from lard or fresh fish, chopped onions, activated carbon pulp and alcohol will help relieve it.
4. For arthritis, apply apple cider vinegar to the sore spot and make lotions from potato infusions or bay leaves.
5. For arthrosis, fresh cabbage leaves and yogurt compresses are good.

Especially many “grandmother’s recipes” are offered for the treatment of bones due to deformation of the thumb joint:

• Make a mixture of 50 g of red clay, one tablespoon of sea salt and a glass of boiled water. Add 5 drops of turpentine, mix thoroughly and apply to the seeds. Keep the mixture until it hardens, then rinse the skin thoroughly with warm water without detergents.
• Make comfortable foot baths with water and sea salt every day. It should be no warmer than body temperature, and the procedure lasts 15 minutes.
• Boil potato peelings, dilute the broth with water and keep your feet for 15 minutes.
• The carcass of a freshly caught fish with the bones removed from it is applied to the desired place and bandaged. In the morning, wash the leg with warm water and lubricate the bone with fir oil.

However, all these remedies are aimed, rather, at relieving pain. You shouldn’t rely too much on your grandmother’s advice; it is much more effective to combine their implementation with the treatment prescribed by the doctor.

Prevention

The most successful treatment for any disease is its prevention. To avoid having to complain to the doctor that your big toe hurts, try following some tips:

• do not wear uncomfortable or too narrow shoes, keep your toes in a free position;
• if you have to stand for a long time, distribute the forced load on your legs equally, change your supporting leg;
• high heels – not for walking on them all day, the optimal period is 3-4 hours;
• do not indulge in too much fatty foods, alcohol and smoking, limit the consumption of coffee and strong tea;
• if signs of bone enlargement appear, use a brace and do special exercises;
• take good care of your feet, avoid roughening the skin and trim your nails correctly;
• Avoid any possible injury, and in the event of an accident, seek professional medical attention immediately.

Normal weight, comfortable shoes, proper nutrition and careful attention to your health is a real chance to maintain healthy and beautiful legs into old age!

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