Pain in the foot or toes can be caused by a variety of factors, including pathologies of the osteoarticular apparatus itself and the soft tissues of the foot. But for no apparent reason, pain most often has a vertebrogenic origin, since it occurs with dystrophic-degenerative changes in the lumbosacral spine.
We are faced with pain in the foot and toes due to radicular syndrome - pinching of the fibers of the spinal nerves in the area of their exit from the spinal canal . In addition, foot pain can result from pinching of the sciatic nerve along its length. In any case, this manifestation requires careful diagnosis and treatment measures. Experienced clinic specialists provide appointments daily, after prior appointment .
For what reasons can your toes hurt?
The most common causes of pain:
- injuries;
- frostbite;
- reaction to insect bites;
- excessive load on the legs;
- infectious lesions of nails and skin, including fungal ones;
- joint diseases;
- swelling caused by chronic diseases.
In women, discomfort and numbness are often associated with wearing poorly chosen shoes. Over time, the foot becomes deformed due to compression, misalignment, or overuse. Thus, pain can be either a consequence of leg fatigue, or a sign of an already developed pathology of the articular joints. With moderate discomfort, if there is no redness of the skin, swelling or fever, help is limited to rest and applying ice. If the pain is severe, you should consult a doctor.
Pain after injury
If discomfort appears after wearing open shoes, you need to check your feet for bites, minor scratches and other injuries, changes in the shape or color of the nails. Often, infections cause inflammation and swelling. Most often, the tips of the toes hurt. If the pain is mild, you can first consult a therapist. If the finger is very swollen, red or blue, or occupies an unnatural position, this may indicate a serious injury: a fracture, dislocation, or severe bruise. In this case, you need to contact a traumatologist.
Pain due to joint pathologies
In case of swelling, constant severe pain, or deformation of the limbs, consultation with an orthopedic traumatologist or rheumatologist is necessary. The presence of articular pathologies is signaled by such signs as:
- frequency of unpleasant sensations;
- frequent swelling;
- deformation of articular joints;
- increase in temperature in the affected area.
Often, sharp pain in the toes indicates a dangerous disease - gout. This condition is caused by excess amounts of uric acid compounds in the body. Over time, its crystals (urates) accumulate in internal organs and joints. In most cases, the lower extremities are primarily affected. Deformation occurs first in the toes and then in the knees. Gout is characterized by periodic attacks with a sudden onset, when the patient wakes up in the middle of the night from acute pain, which is accompanied by severe redness of the skin, swelling, fever and signs of intoxication. Often, fingers hurt due to another common disease - arthritis. With this pathology, inflammation of the joint occurs and cartilage tissue is destroyed. The disease often develops after a primary illness, for example, tonsillitis. The infection can enter the joint through a small wound. Non-infectious arthritis can be triggered by repeated injuries, autoimmune disorders, and unbalanced nutrition. Sometimes the cause of pain is arthrosis. This degenerative disease also affects cartilage tissue and destroys joints, causing severe deformation and the formation of osteophytes - bone growths that significantly limit mobility. Over time, the patient develops severe lameness; walking requires a cane or other support, since the affected foot cannot cope with the load.
Pain in toes
General information
Pain in the toes is most often caused by one of three main reasons:
- Arthritis;
- arthrosis;
- vascular disorders:
Any arthritis is characterized by an inflammatory rhythm of pain at night. The big toe is often inflamed in reactive arthritis and psoriatic arthritis , as well as in gout . The remaining four fingers most often become inflamed (in different variations and combinations) with rheumatoid arthritis, and sometimes with psoriatic arthritis.
Arthrosis of the big toe , colloquially called gout, actually has nothing in common with gout. Although true gout most often affects the big toe, it is much less common than arthrosis . Moreover, while gout affects mostly men, arthrosis of the big toe occurs most often in women.
The reason lies in long-term wearing of shoes with narrow toes. As a result, the big toe deviates strongly inward, pressing against the second toe. The bone that protrudes due to deviation of the foot receives additional traumatization (rubbed by shoes) while walking and gradually becomes deformed. Later, not only the protruding bone, but also the entire joint is deformed. It becomes much wider than it was before. Movement in such a joint is limited.
With advanced arthrosis, the deformity usually fixes the finger in the wrong position so strongly that it is almost impossible to return it to its normal position. Due to constant friction, inflammation of the periarticular bursa (bursitis) occurs; the joint swells, turns red and hurts at the slightest touch.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that the big toe, with its pressure, “pushes out” the second and third toes, which leads to a combined deformation of the entire foot, which is very difficult to treat with therapeutic methods .
Morton's neuroma
Morton's neuroma is also called plantar fasciitis. Pain occurs at the base of the toes. This occurs due to increased pressure on the nerve. It happens five times more often in women than in men.
Morton's neuroma is likely caused by repeated trauma. develops as a result of pinched nerves . Since the irritation is chronic, this part of the nerve thickens and becomes sensitive and painful. The main symptom of Morton's neuroma is pain. It is usually located at the base of the second, third or fourth fingers. When carrying heavy objects and walking, the pain intensifies. It can radiate to nearby fingers and towards the calf. Numbness in the feet and toes and pain in the toes when walking can be a consequence of diabetes. At the same time, the patient often complains of a burning sensation in the feet, especially at night. This indicates vascular problems and hyperactivity of nerve endings.
White fingers
Whitening of the toes may be accompanied by pain in the fingers, especially during physical activity: walking, running, climbing stairs. This condition of the legs may also indicate hypothermia. all indicates a disease of the blood vessels, or rather the arteries of the legs. The main risk factors are:
- Male gender;
- age over 30 years;
- smoking;
- diabetes.
There are two main diseases in which similar symptoms occur:
- Atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities;
- obliterating endarteritis.
Both disorders are accompanied by impaired blood flow through the arteries, which ultimately results in impaired delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. Pain in the legs (or one leg) appears in different parts (fingers, foot, lower leg) depending on the level of blockage of the vessel. In addition, the following changes occur:
- The skin becomes pale, dry;
- brittle nails;
- hair loss on the legs (especially noticeable in men);
- increased sensitivity to cold.
Ingrown nail
An ingrown toenail most often appears on the big toe. A nail that has grown into the skin of a finger can cause severe pain, and may also cause:
- Redness;
- swelling;
- infection.
Trimming your nails too short or unevenly, or wearing tight shoes can all lead to an ingrown toenail.
Calluses are a build-up of dead cells that harden and thicken on the skin of the feet. They are usually located in the following places:
- Pads of feet;
- heels;
- thumb.
Some hardenings have a fairly deep root, called the core. This type is especially painful when there is constant pressure on the big toe. If you have pain in your toes, a neurologist, traumatologist, or surgeon can help.
What to do if your toe hurts?
If severe pain occurs, you must:
- remove shoes and socks;
- provide limbs with rest, preferably in an elevated position;
- Avoid drinking alcohol, fatty and smoked foods.
If the pain is very severe, you can take a painkiller. If the temperature rises and swelling, an anti-inflammatory drug is required. If pain appears after a bruise, ice should be applied to the affected area. You should not warm your feet in a hot water bath before consulting a doctor. When moving, you should use a support to reduce the load on the limb. After your condition improves, try to get medical advice as soon as possible. If there is severe pain in the fingers, a number of diagnostic procedures may be required:
- laboratory tests (blood and urine, joint puncture, allergy tests);
- study of skin microflora;
- X-ray;
- MRI;
- CT;
- and other studies.
A thorough examination will reveal the presence of inflammatory diseases, changes in the shape and structure of joints and other abnormalities. The diagnostic results will allow the doctor to find out exactly the reason why your toes hurt and to correctly decide how to treat this disease.
Causes of foot pain
Strictly local pain in the foot and toes appears under the following conditions:
- Foot injuries - fractures, sprains, bruises, hematomas, etc.
- Arthritis, arthrosis of the joints of the feet, inflammation of muscles, tendons;
- Diabetic foot syndrome;
- Foot tunnel syndrome – irritation and pinching of the tibial nerve due to injuries, tumors, varicose veins and other conditions;
- Excessive tension in the foot muscles;
- Neoplasms of the foot, etc.
With lumbosacral osteochondrosis and sciatica - pinching of the sciatic nerve - pain in the foot is a continuation of the pain syndrome, which begins in the back and spreads to the buttocks, thighs and legs. The pain is severe and can even completely immobilize the patient. The pain syndrome increases significantly with movement - the patient cannot step on the leg, bend, straighten and turn the foot.
To establish an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to carry out instrumental studies, among which the most reliable information can be obtained using:
- X-rays of the spine in the lumbar region, pelvic-sacral joint, hip joint, foot;
- Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging;
- Computed tomography;
- Radioisotope scanning allows you to determine the presence of neoplasms and infectious processes in the foot area.
Features of treatment
After the doctor determines why the patient's toes hurt, he will develop a treatment plan. In advanced cases, surgery may be required, but treatment is usually limited to conservative methods:
- drug therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- physical therapy.
Painkillers are necessary if your toe hurts very badly. Anti-inflammatory drugs and decongestants are also recommended. Sometimes taking chondroprotectors is required.
Physiotherapy improves blood circulation and metabolism, eliminates pain and swelling, and accelerates tissue recovery. Therapeutic exercise ensures the development of muscles and ligaments, which is necessary for proper distribution of the load on the legs, preventing repeated injuries and exacerbation of joint diseases. On the website you can find prices for services. To prevent pain, a healthy diet, wearing comfortable shoes, and avoiding excessive stress and hypothermia are necessary. It is also advisable to continue doing therapeutic exercises - this will help maintain muscle tone and healthy joint mobility.
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Treatment of foot pain
Since pain in the foot sharply reduces a person’s performance and ability to move, it requires urgent treatment measures . First of all, this is the elimination of pain through the administration of effective analgesics. A good result can be achieved using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, each pathology requires the use of specific therapy methods aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease.
So, for pain in the foot caused by osteochondrosis of the spine and inflammation of the sciatic nerve, it is necessary to release the nerve tissues from the compressed state. This can be achieved using the deep impact of manual therapy techniques. Therapeutic gymnastics is acceptable after eliminating the acute stage of the pathology; its exercises help improve blood supply to the affected area and strengthen the muscle-tendon system. Physiotherapy , acupuncture and other techniques help to further reduce inflammatory swelling and enhance the effect of basic treatment techniques.