What to do if your big toe hurts. Pain in any large leg: causes and treatment. Causes of inflammatory diseases

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When a toe hurts, a person experiences discomfort as there is difficulty walking.

In addition, it may be a symptom of a serious illness.

Therefore, when faced with such a nuisance, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause of the pain as soon as possible, and then begin treatment.

Anatomical certificate

The foot and toes are one of the most important parts of the musculoskeletal system. When moving, they support body weight and move it, helping to maintain balance. Functionally, the foot of a healthy person is adapted for support.

Therefore, the fingers of the lower extremities are less mobile and significantly shorter than those on the hands. In the skeleton of the foot, I distinguish 3 sections - the tarsus, metatarsus and phalanges of the fingers. The toes, with the exception of the big toes, consist of 3 phalanges. The first finger has only 2 phalanges.

The bones articulate with each other using a cohesive apparatus that strengthens the joints. Each bone is supported by specific muscles and is surrounded by a network of blood vessels and nerves. Any damage to them can cause pain.

Pad, nail, bones?

Toes can hurt in three different locations:

finger pad most likely it hurts due to roughening of the skin on it, in this case special creams and pumice will help;
nail may hurt due to uncomfortable shoes;
and here bones and joints Usually they hurt due to some pathology, which can only be diagnosed by a specialist.

The joints and soft tissues of the fingers are at risk

Toes hurt very often and almost all people, but this happens for various reasons, usually the big toes suffer, since they are injured most often.

Swelling, pain, discomfort - this is gout

But most often the joints of the legs are affected by the disease, and the most severe pain is observed in the fingers. Typically, attacks of pathology occur at night.

The joint swells, the skin over it turns red and becomes hot. Excruciating burning pain rises from the toes up the leg. The inflammatory process can involve adjacent tissues, then the clinical picture resembles phlebitis or cellulitis.

On average, an attack lasts several days or even weeks. After the attack passes, the joint returns to normal.

Finger arthritis

It is characterized by symmetrical pain sensations, since it affects the same joints on both limbs. The pain syndrome is pronounced and is observed both during exercise and at rest.

The joints swell, become deformed, the skin over them turns red and becomes hot. The range of motion of the joint decreases, and a crunching sound appears under load.

With different types of arthritis, pain is observed in different fingers.

The thumb, for example, hurts when and.

Degenerative-dystrophic destruction

Another cause of pain is degenerative-dystrophic pathology of the joint, in which destruction of cartilage is observed. In this case, the pain is periodic.

In this case, the bones on the big toes often hurt after walking, and it goes away with rest. But as the pathology progresses, the pain becomes stronger, does not go away after rest, and even happens at night.

The disease is characterized by stiffness in the morning, painful seals at the edges of the joint space, decreased range of motion in the joint, and crunching noises when moving.

The disease predominantly affects women who wear dress shoes with narrow toes for a long time.

The thumb becomes deformed, a bone begins to protrude on it, which also becomes deformed over time, and as a result, all fingers become curved and increase in size. Due to constant injury to the thumb, its joints progress...

…Bursitis

The thumb swells, turns red, and becomes hot. The main sign is the presence of a mobile swelling in the area damaged joint. It is painful on palpation and clearly visible visually.

The disease can also become chronic. Then the deposition of calcium salts will join the inflammatory process, resulting in constant pain.

If bursitis was caused by an injury to the big toe, then a secondary infection may be added to the inflammation. Purulent bursitis develops, and all the signs become more pronounced; in addition, there is a general increase in temperature, nausea, weakness, etc.

Inflammation of the tendons in the feet

The thumb ligaments suffer from this disease most often due to the fact that they are constantly injured. With inflammation of the ligaments, pain can be observed not only in the first finger, but also in all the others.

The disease is characterized by crunching during movement, pain when walking, when palpating the tendons, subsidence of pain at rest, hyperemia of the skin in the area of the affected joint, and a local increase in temperature.

Pain due to finger injury

The phalanges of the fingers are most often injured, since they are least protected from exogenous influences, and the bones themselves are small in diameter and do not have sufficient strength.

When autoimmune diseases are the basis of pain, hormonal drugs (Dexamethasone) are prescribed, which have an analgesic effect and quickly relieve inflammation.

For bone destruction, they can be prescribed, for example.

For gout, medications that lower uric acid levels () and diet are prescribed.

In general, different treatment methods are used depending on the triggering factor.

For prevention purposes

Prevention of pain and inflammation in the toes is as follows:

injury must be avoided;
maintain personal hygiene;
wear comfortable shoes, do not walk for a long time in high heels;
do a pedicure correctly;
avoid excessive loads;
to live an active lifestyle.

You should not ignore pain in your fingers and let everything take its course, as the pathology can progress and lead to disability.

When your big toe hurts, wearing shoes becomes painful, discomfort appears, to eliminate which you need to urgently consult a doctor, because this symptom may indicate the development of a dangerous disease.

The disease, the symptoms of which are pain and swelling, can be mechanical or infectious in nature. The most common causes of pain are the following: ingrown toenails, arthritis and arthrosis, gout. Let's analyze these reasons in more detail.

Gout is a chronic disease that results from the deposition of uric acid salts in the joints. The most common lesion involved is the thumb of the lower extremity.

Salt deposition occurs due to a decrease in their excretion through the kidneys, which, in turn, occurs when metabolic processes in the body are disrupted. Metabolic disorders can be a consequence of: genetic failure; poor nutrition; bad habits; diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiac ischemia; suffered injuries.

Psychosomatics plays an important role in determining the cause of gout. It is worth noting that psychosomatics in such a disease is expressed in the need to dominate, impatience, and anger. All these human qualities are expressed through the symptoms and signs of gout.

In addition to pain in the joint of the big toe, other symptoms of gout occur:

the finger is swollen and painful, and the entire foot is swollen;
the finger turned red;
body temperature increases.

To clarify this diagnosis, the doctor prescribes an x-ray, a blood and synovial fluid test of the joint, and an ultrasound. Treatment of pain in the big toe joint and other manifestations of the disease is based on conservative methods, diet, and physical therapy, which is prescribed only by a doctor.

In Chinese medicine, there is such a common method of eliminating the disease as acupuncture with a hot needle. Few people know it in our medicine, but it is quite effective in its homeland. The method is as follows:

Select several points located near the site of inflammation.
Heat the needle until its tip turns bright red.
Prick selected points with a hot needle, releasing up to 60 ml of blood from them.
The procedure is carried out twice a week.

In general, three sessions will be enough to return the limb to natural function and eliminate the symptoms of gout.

An ingrown toenail mainly appears on the big toe, but the one next to it is no exception. An ingrown toenail can occur for the following reasons:

performing a poor-quality or incorrect manicure (cutting the nail too deep);

wearing uncomfortable shoes (when the big toe, including the nail, is strongly compressed by the shoes);

if the nail has a specific shape (may have a genetic predisposition);

with existing flat feet;

if the tip of the nail grows in from the side due to a sharp increase in a person’s weight;

if the leg is injured;

the presence of fungal foot disease.

The psychosomatics of the disease determines that the tip of the nail can grow into the skin when a person is worried about moving forward towards his goals.

The skin under the nail in the area where it grows may become red and swollen. A concomitant symptom is severe aching pain at the base of the big toe both when walking and at rest. Late stages of the pathology are accompanied by suppuration of the wound.

When the tip of the nail grows into the skin, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment. If treatment with conservative methods is impossible or ineffective, surgical intervention is resorted to. Your doctor will also tell you how to treat the disease at home.

If the bone at the base of your thumb hurts

A bunion near the big toe, or more precisely, at its base, often occurs with flat feet. You can also note such reasons as wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes, poor diet, hereditary and other diseases. In this case, the bone that abducts the big toe begins to become inflamed, modified and protruding. The appearance of the bone resembles a large subcutaneous lump. People often believe that a protruding bone at the base of the thumb is a symptom of gout. To determine the correct diagnosis, you need to consult a specialist.

Big toe deformity develops in 4 stages:

Stage 1– There is no pain syndrome, the bone protrudes noticeably.

Stage 2– The pain is mild and fleeting and intensifies when the leg moves.

Stage 3– The phalanx of the thumb tolerates a displacement of 30–50 degrees. The bone and finger hurt a lot when a person stands for a long time.

Stage 4– The thumb is displaced by more than 50 degrees. The bone and finger hurt constantly.

If the bone at the base of the thumb hurts, treatment is as follows: diet; drinking enough fluid; wearing comfortable shoes made of quality materials; massage and physical education; physiotherapy.

If all methods are ineffective, surgery to remove the bone is prescribed. Contraindications for the operation are existing diseases: diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, heart disease, thrombophlebitis.

Arthritis of the big toe

Arthritis of the big toe is most often a consequence of reactive or psoriatic arthritis and gout. The psychosomatics of the disease states that arthritis develops in those people who are too strict with themselves and cannot relax and express their desires.

Most people have this disease for many years. Exacerbation of arthritis occurs at the time of change in weather conditions, season or climatic conditions. Symptoms of the disease are:

the big toe hurts when bending, as well as when a person moves;

limited finger mobility;

unpleasant stiffness at the site of the lesion;

increased body temperature;

redness and swelling of the skin over the affected area.

Treatment, first of all, consists of following a diet prescribed by the doctor. He also prescribes other treatment, which will differ in each specific case, depending on the cause of the disease.

Bursitis

Deformation of the big toe and the appearance of a bump on its side is called “bursitis,” which occurs for the following reasons: uncomfortable shoes that a person wears; genetic predisposition; rheumatic and metabolic pathologies present in humans.

The psychosomatics of such a disease lies in the lack of joy in a person towards the things around him and life in general.

Symptoms of bursitis are clearly expressed:

the metatarsophalangeal bursa swells and becomes inflamed;
pain syndrome that occurs when walking;
the skin at the site of the lesion turns red;
burning sensation in the affected area;
restriction of finger mobility.

With significant progression of the disease, swelling and pain syndrome may spread to the lower leg. A callus may appear on the inside of the finger. In the case when a person eliminates it with the help of pumice, files and creams, there is an increase in trauma to the inflammation zone, and the foot becomes even more deformed.

If the infection enters the synovial bursa, signs of intoxication develop. These include malaise and weakness, as well as elevated body temperature.

Treatment of the initial stage of the disease consists of the following: wearing comfortable shoes; limiting loads on the foot; to eliminate swelling and pain, it is recommended to elevate the leg; physiotherapy.

Advanced cases require other treatment: taking painkillers, antibiotics, wearing special insoles in shoes.

Muscle pain

The muscle of the big toe, just like all the other muscles of the foot, can hurt after a load on it. The pain will be aching, but not severe, which occurs when moving.

Muscles (muscles) also hurt after keeping the limbs in one position for a long time. This may include flying on an airplane, sitting or standing for a long time. This occurs when blood stagnates in the veins in the case of a monotonous position of the limbs. In this case, endotoxins accumulate, and muscles (muscles), or rather their cells, succumb to oxygen starvation. As a result of such processes, the pain receptor is activated and the muscles (muscle) begin to ache.

Such pain can be eliminated with a short rest, and blood stagnation in the limbs can be eliminated by giving them an elevated position.

The next reason why the muscles (muscle of the big toe) of the feet may become sore is walking in shoes with high heels. This usually applies to women. Joint pain can be confused with muscle pain in diseases such as osteoarthritis deformans, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.

How to prevent finger diseases?

In order not to waste time, energy and money on treating the manifested disease of the toe, it is better to take care of prevention. Let us highlight the following rules of prevention:

Maintaining foot hygiene.
Wearing comfortable shoes.
Taking foot baths with herbs.
Hygiene of pedicure instruments.
Avoiding hypothermia of the extremities.

Only a doctor can determine why the big toe hurts based on the diagnostic results. You should not delay visiting a doctor, as pain may indicate a serious illness. Otherwise, you may end up with irreversible consequences.

When a person complains that the big toe joint on his foot hurts when walking or even at rest, this may indicate either a simple bruise or a serious disease of the bones, joints and muscles of the foot. In case of a bruise, it is not difficult to determine the cause of the pain, but if the pain began without mechanical impact, then only a doctor can understand its occurrence.

Causes of pain in the big toe

reading information

Pain in the joint of the big toe is usually due to a local or general cause. To location relate: trauma, fracture, overuse, infectious arthritis, bursitis. To general- gout, advanced stages of syphilis and tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, which affects several joints in the body at once, degenerative-dystrophic damage to the joints.

By paying attention to a number of accompanying symptoms, it is possible to narrow down the range of possible pathologies. For example, if the metatarsophalangeal joint has become infected and caused arthritis, the big toe will be hot to the touch and there will be redness and swelling. By the end of the day there is pain under the fingers when walking.

Important. Pain is not always a sign of disease development. Often this is the body's reaction to stress. For the human body, this is a normal manifestation of a defense mechanism.

The symptoms can easily be confused with those that occur with an ordinary bruise. However, if the pain is pulsating and intensifies when walking, then this indicates the presence of pus in the foot and the spread of infection. When pain occurs at night or early in the morning, there is a suspicion of gout.

The main causes of pain in the big toe are the following pathologies:

Rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis.
Gout.
Bursitis.
Trauma, bruise, fracture.

Rheumatoid arthritis has a symptomatic picture that is different from other diseases. It is characterized by bilateral and simultaneous damage to both feet and hands. There is no pus or infection, but the joints also swell, the bones become deformed, and the big toes curl inward.

Diagnosis

Diseases affecting the big toe joint have similar symptoms. The differences are minimal, and even a doctor often fails to make an accurate diagnosis without additional research. A rheumatologist or orthopedist prescribes x-rays, blood and urine tests, and arthrocentesis.

The x-ray image clearly shows the pathological areas and the extent of the lesion. However, an X-ray image sometimes turns out to be blank and uninformative. When there are no bone changes, perhaps we are talking about damage to the muscles, ligaments and cartilage tissue. To clarify the diagnosis, an ultrasound is prescribed.

A doctor can confirm the diagnosis of “gout” or “rheumatoid arthritis” only after a biochemical blood test. In the test results, the urea level for gout will be over 8.7 mmol/l. An excess indicates improper functioning of the kidneys, which does not remove uric acid, but causes it to be deposited in the form of crystals on the joints. Kidney failure begins as a complication. In this case, creatinine, on the contrary, is reduced and does not reach a value of 115 mmol/l.

Advice. For the most informative picture of a biochemical blood test, on the eve of donation, physical activity, smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol should be excluded. Stress and taking any medications are also undesirable.

Arthrocentesis is an important diagnostic procedure for gout. It involves taking synovial fluid from the affected finger for analysis. The study is carried out during the period of remission. By the number of salt crystals it is possible to understand whether the treatment is helping or the patient is only getting worse.

Treatment of pain in the big toe

For a patient complaining of pain in the joint of the big toe, treatment is prescribed based on the results of the research. In this case, the primary task is to eliminate the pain syndrome. If the pathology is caused by an infection, then antibiotics, non-steroidal drugs and antihistamines are prescribed to reduce pain.

Advice. If you have constant pain in your big toe, you should not use painkillers for a long time and postpone going to the doctor. Painkillers provide a temporary effect and often only worsen the situation, which is then more difficult to correct.

If pain relief is a mandatory action for every disease that causes discomfort in the big toe area, then a strictly individual impact on the pathology follows.

Therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

If the pathology develops against the background of an infection, antibiotics are prescribed. If there are no symptoms on the skin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. During obvious inflammation, corticosteroid drugs are administered intravenously.

Uncomfortable high-heeled shoes with narrow toes are a common cause of arthrosis of the joint of the first toe.

The immunocomplex nature allows plasmapheresis to have a good effect on pathology. However, the results are always different, so it is advisable to include in the treatment basic agents that act directly on rheumatoid arthritis itself. Drugs in this group are slow in action and are taken for at least six months. And even with a positive effect, the patient continues to use them.

Important. During the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, it is mandatory to prevent osteoporosis by restoring calcium metabolism. To do this, follow a diet rich in foods high in calcium.

Therapy for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is characterized by the destruction of cartilage tissue, which means it is necessary to stop this degenerative process. Chondroprotectors solve this issue. The patient is quickly relieved of pain, but full recovery takes a long period. The main principle of treatment is the absence of physical activity on the affected area, as well as exercise therapy, physiotherapy, and adherence to an orthopedic regimen.

In the acute form of osteoarthritis, a bandage is applied to the affected finger, which mobilizes the joint and keeps it at rest for a long time.

The main goal in the treatment of osetoarthrosis of the foot is to prevent the development of contractures and develop the joint. If this is not done, the pain in the thumb may return.

Therapy for gout

A patient with gout upon initial diagnosis or during an exacerbation is sent for treatment to a hospital, to the rheumatology department. Intensive therapy is carried out for 7-14 days. During this time, with adequate selection of treatment, it is possible to relieve pain and improve the clinical picture of the disease. When the disease subsides, the patient is observed by a nephrologist and rheumatologist on an outpatient basis.

Today, modern medicine does not know any one universal cure for gout. Therefore, the issue can only be resolved through an integrated approach and trial of various techniques. At the initial stage, a drug is prescribed to reduce the concentration of uric acid (Colchicine) and a drug to accelerate the removal of the substance from the body (Allopurinol).

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 can become inflamed (in various combinations and variants) with psoriatic arthritis (less commonly) or with 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 the wrong 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 it is very difficult to combat these consequences using therapeutic methods.

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 being male, age over 30 years, diabetes mellitus, and 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 to the tissues.

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 of 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 a 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, a 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 contacting a doctor and finding out the cause, the following medications can be used to relieve pain and inflammation (both in gel ointments and in tablets):

Swelling, pain, heaviness in the legs, which most people periodically experience, introduces disharmony and disrupts the usual rhythm of life. Uncomfortable shoes, special work schedules, sports activities, and injuries can cause discomfort. The heel or arch of the foot, ankle joint, toes - are targeted by various diseases. Why the big toe hurts and how to deal with it is one of the pressing issues of the modern rhythm of life.

Possible causes of pain in the big toe

Uncomfortable shoes, poor diet, excess weight, injuries and impacts during sports bring pain and numbness to the lower extremities. The presence of a lump on the side of the foot, discomfort when bending, swelling of the nail areas or balls of the foot can be caused by the following reasons:

Domestic injuries. Heavy objects falling on the foot, sprains and sprains often cause the big toe to become swollen and painful.
Intense physical activity with insufficient sports training. A sedentary lifestyle and extra pounds of weight add additional stress.
Professional sports. Dislocations of the joints of the big toe on both the right foot and the left foot of track and field athletes are often associated with increased load during pushing.
"Wrong" shoes.
Features of the work. An eight-hour working day without the opportunity to sit down can lead to heaviness at the bottom of the foot and swelling of the big toes.
Poor quality pedicure.
Congenital or acquired diseases.

What diseases can cause pain

Inflammation of any joint in the human body is called arthritis. If your big toe hurts, there is redness or swelling in this area, or decreased mobility of the metatarsal phalanx, you should definitely consult a doctor. Arthritis happens:

Infectious. Untreated viral diseases reduce overall immunity. Streptococci penetrate into the joint, destroying cartilage tissue. It begins asymptomatically, gradually turning into aching, stabbing pain. The attacks are stronger at night and gradually subside in the morning.
Deficient (excessive). A deficiency, as well as an excess of minerals, vitamins, and salts leads to disruption of metabolic processes. The result is the accumulation of harmful deposits in the area of the big toe, which often hurts during exercise.

The causes of changes in the structure and action of the joints of the thumb are diseases such as:

Arthrosis. These are soft tissue disorders and negative changes in cartilage.

Osteoporosis. Reduction of bone tissue, increasing bone fragility. Caused by calcium and phosphorus deficiency.

Bunion of the big toe. Inflammation of the interarticular sac - bursa. Causes: excess salts in the body, foot deformities, immune disorders.

Flat valgus foot deformity. A disease called gout, a “knucklebone.” This is a displacement of the big toes inward, while they suddenly lose mobility and hurt.

Morton's neuroma. Pinched nerves, resulting in thickening of the soft tissue around them. Burning of the tips of the limbs, cramps and tingling are symptoms of the disease.

Damage to the ankle joint. Torn ligaments, dislocations, sprains disrupt the blood circulation of the foot, the big toes become numb and swell.

Diabetes. With such diseases, any pain in the limbs is a reason to consult a specialist. Poor blood circulation in the foot without surgical treatment leads to gangrene and amputation.

If the bone near your big toe hurts

The formation of a swelling at the beginning of the phalanx of the thumb is often the beginning of big troubles. It is necessary to find out the cause of the formation on the bone:

Gout. It occurs as a result of the accumulation of uric acid salts in the joint. They gradually calcify, causing the growth of a side bump on the legs.
Hallux valgus – deformation of the thumb. Physiological reasons are the internal inclination of the foot, which causes significant growth of the bone on the side and displacement (deviation) to the side. It is considered a "women's disease".
Bursitis promotes the growth of a painfully red, swollen lump at the phalanx of the first finger due to the growth and untimely disposal of joint fluid in the “bursa”.

Big toe joint hurts

Pain in the thumb joint is caused by... A timely visit to a specialist will help get rid of discomfort. Otherwise, the joint will gradually “wear out” and surgical intervention will be required. The cause of burning, aching pain at the base of the big toe is damage to the ankle ligaments as a result of significant physical activity or weight.

Severe pain near the nail when pressing or walking

What causes pain in the area around the big toe nail at rest or when walking? Unsuccessful pedicure, damage to the cuticle of the nail plate, fungal infections, unsanitary conditions, and ingrown corners of the nails often trigger redness, swelling and pain of various types. If purulent infection occurs, it is preferable to consult a surgeon to avoid damage to the joints.

Uncomfortable shoes with pointed toes, mismatch between the sizes of shoes and feet cause a mechanical impact on the big toe, squeezing it; Walking in heels increases pressure on the pads, pinching nerve endings.

If your big toe is swollen and painful

To understand what to do if your big toe is swollen and hurts, you need to find out the cause. Often the cause of pain is physical trauma, when swelling occurs at the site of a bruise, blow, or sprain. Provide the foot with rest for several days; to relieve symptoms, use anesthetics and vascular-restoring ointments.

Which festers, causes sharp, twitching pain inside the joint and the appearance of a tumor. Warm baths of saline solution, antiseptics, folk remedies - celandine, chamomile - will help get rid of inflammation. Uncomfortable shoes, high heels, combined with working on your feet are a common cause of swelling of both the ball of the foot and the big toes.

What to do and what treatment to take

If you have pain in your big toes, it is advisable to consult a specialist. General recommendations for prevention would be the following:

wearing comfortable shoes with a heel of 3–5 cm;
purchase of orthopedic shoes;
adherence to a salt-free diet, a minimum of fatty, spicy, sweet foods;
weight loss;
selection of proven nail salons;
wearing special shoes in public places: swimming pools, beaches, sports clubs.

For deforming osteoporosis

The destruction of cartilage around the joint as a result of rapid aging and wear and tear leads to cracks or even complete destruction. As a result, deformation of the articular tissue occurs and the bone is exposed. If your big toe hurts, you should reduce physical activity during exacerbation. Physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, UHF, magnetic therapy - help relieve pain. Chondroprotective ointments, anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers are constant companions in the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis.

For gout

The deposition of urolithiasis salts is fraught with painful inflammation and the growth of a lump on the side of the foot. An acute attack of pain can be relieved at home by applying ice. During recovery, sharply limit your intake of protein foods. Contacting a rheumatologist will help determine the degree of development of gout. To stop an attack, the doctor will select anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs, drugs that quickly remove uric acid from the body. The most important means of combating the disease will be a strict salt-free diet with limited protein intake.

For nail fungus

Mycotic lesions are difficult to cure on your own. Advertised general-spectrum drugs often relieve symptoms but do not cure the disease. Swelling, inflammation around the nail plate, and redness can be effectively eliminated after testing and consultation with a mycologist. Having determined the type of fungus involved, the area of infection, and the severity, the specialist prescribes antimycotic drugs, immunostimulants, ointments and creams. At home, soap and soda baths and herbal decoctions will be a good help.

Treatment of ingrown toenails

Ingrown nail plates cause pain on the toenails of the big toes. Acute attacks of pain are eliminated by surgery. The initial stage of this disease is curable at home:

Softening salt baths will help relieve tension. Soft skin and cuticle “release” the ingrown toenail.
The length of the nail plate should reach the tip of the finger. Avoid short pedicures and regular polishes.
The shape of the nail is straight. Apply with sharp scissors. Sharp corners are removed with a file.
Herbal infusions act as an antiseptic, relieve swelling and inflammation.

Which doctor should I contact to diagnose the disease?

If your big toe hurts for a long time, the pain is acute and difficult to subside, this is a reason to consult a specialist. The therapist will conduct an initial examination and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist doctor. A visit to a cardiologist and rheumatologist will help rule out heart disease. Hormonal disorders are managed by an endocrinologist. An orthopedic surgeon will combat arthritis, arthrosis and other foot disorders. A traumatologist will tell you how to get rid of pain in your big toes due to sprains, bruises, and dislocations.