Common Causes of Pain in Your Toes
For the last several months I have had an odd pain in my toe joints. All 10 toes are affected and the pain strikes at the oddest times. It is not severe, but bad enough to be annoying. While I do not see my doctor for a few more days, I started to research my nursing school books and, yes, the internet (credible sites only, of course) to try and at least get an idea of what may be causing this. Here we will look at what may cause pain in your toes.
I've had osteoarthritis for a very long time and being only 27, it is pretty well-controlled with Mobic and my regular physical therapy/exercise routine. This toe pain is different, though arthritis can cause toe pain. When arthritis is the cause, the big toe is most often affected.
Sprains and Fractures
I know this is not the cause as no other symptoms are present and the pain has been persisting too long. However, if you do fracture any of the small bones in your foot, you may notice pain around and in your big toe. If you sprain your toe, swelling and pain are common.
Corns and Calluses
These are visible and result from skin building up. Corns resemble horns, where calluses are flat and rough. This is also not my issue, but these are common issues.
Turf Toe
This is something I experienced as a sports injury in high school and it affects your big toe. It is an overuse injury that can cause pain and sometimes some bruising.
Ingrown Toenail
This would generally only affect one of your toes. This can be quite painful and if left untreated, there is a chance that a infection may result.
Hammer or Claw Toe
I have had a hammer toe for as long as I can remember, but have no idea why it occurred and it causes me no symptoms. It can cause pain for some people though. Claw toe can also cause pain. These are two different conditions because they affect different toe joints.
Gout
Gout often affects the big toe and is an inflammatory condition. This condition can be severely painful and swelling can also occur. It may be seen in those with diabetes, but can occur in those without this disease as well. It requires prompt treatment and daily medication thereafter to prevent further attacks.
Resources
Published by R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
Rose is a freelance medical writer with a background in health care. She has been a freelance medical writer for five years. Rose is also an editor and writes on a variety of other subjects, such as sports... View profile
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