Toe pain

What is toe pain?

Toe pain is a common symptom due to the fact that our feet are used for movement, including high-impact activities such as walking, running, and jumping. This makes them particularly at risk of injury. There are many other conditions that can affect the various structures of the toe, including the skin, soft tissue, nerves, bones, and blood vessels.

What are the causes of toe pain?

Toe pain can be caused by a number of things, including injury, abnormalities, and diseases:

• Broken or fractured bones
• Lacerations, perhaps caused by activity
• Ingrown toenails
• Blisters
• Bunions
• Hammertoe
• Claw toe
• Corns and calluses
• Gout
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Lupus

Some of these conditions, such as bunions and hammertoe, may be caused or exacerbated by unsuitable footwear. These could be poorly-fitting shoes, pointed shoes, or high heels.

Others, such as arthritis, are conditions where the cause may be unclear, and can affect various parts of a person’s body.

How is toe pain treated?

Treatment for toe pain depends on the cause. Toe pain is a symptom of another condition, and that condition must be treated to make the pain goes away for good. In many cases, painkillers may be an option to manage the pain until the underlying condition is resolved.

For example, a fractured toe may be treated at home by taping it to the adjacent toe and resting it, while a more serious break may need hospital treatment. Arthritis, on the other hand, is a chronic condition which will need managing with the help of a specialist.

Which type of specialist treats toe pain?

This depends very much on the cause of the pain, but orthopaedic surgeons specialising in foot and ankle conditions are involved in the treatment of many sources of toe pain.