Big Toe Numbness

Each one of us faces foot problems. Some people ignore them, while others get scared and there are still others who get the problem treated at the right time. These foot problems are mainly associated with the pain in the toes, heels or the ankles. The causes for these problems are many. Of the various problems related to the toe, many people suffer from big toe numbness.

Causes

There are many reasons that cause the big toe to go numb or to 'fall asleep'. Usually, the numbness in the big toe is caused due to problems in the blood circulation, nerve damage, damage to the blood vessels in the toe etc. These causes will not be apparent unless and until they are diagnosed properly. There are some common causes, however, that can be treated easily and the numbness in the big toe can be reduced significantly. Listed below are these causes that lead to big toe numbness and pain.

Footwear: We own so many different types of shoes and irrespective of the fact that they hurt us, we still wear them because they look good with our clothes. The toe gets traumatized when we wear such ill fitting shoes. The strap of the shoes or the laces of the shoes can also lead to decreased blood supply in the toes, if they are tied too tightly. If the shoes are loose, then the toe is used to stop the shoe from slipping off. All this leads to numbness in the big toe. The best treatment, in this case, is to stop wearing the shoes that trouble your feet and wearing only those shoes that fit properly and comfortably to avoid the numbness.

Bunions: This is the second common cause for toe numbness. Bunions are caused due to ill fitting shoes, weaker joints, lots of physical activity etc. It is a condition of lateral displacement of the toe and is very painful. Bunions also lead to numbness in the toes. Hence, bunion treatment is important in order to get relief from this numbness.

Arthritis: Arthritis and osteoarthritis also cause big toe numbness and tingling. Arthritis leads to joint pain which, in turn, makes the big toe numb. The toes may also become numb due to psoriatic arthritis because of the painful stiffness in the joints. Timely treatment from the doctor is the only way to reduce the numbness in the toe.

Nerve Compression: This is another cause of a numb big toe. If the toe has been injured in any way, a nerve in the toe may be compressed. This compressed nerve causes the toe to go numb for a long period of time. The right thing to do here is to get it treated from the doctor so that the exact problem is diagnosed and the treatment is given accordingly.

Diabetes: Big toe numbness and diabetes are related. It is another cause for numb toes and should not be ignored. Several people are unaware that they suffer from diabetes and ignore the numbness. People who suffer from numb toes should get themselves checked for diabetes too so that immediate treatment is possible to avoid further issues.

Gout: Often neglected, gout is the condition caused due to the increase in the levels of uric acid in an individual. Tests need to be conducted for corrective treatments.

Peripheral Neuropathy: As mentioned above, one of the reasons for big toe numbness is damage to the blood vessels in the toe. Peripheral neuropathy is the condition where the blood vessels, large and small, are damaged, leading to nerve damage. This induces extreme numbness in the toes. This condition is common in smokers and in diabetics and should not be ignored or else it can lead to permanent loss of the use of the limb.

Obesity: Obese people always suffer from foot problems. Numbness is one of side effects of obesity. The feet cannot hold the weight of the person and there is less blood supply to the feet. This makes the feet go numb. Exercise and diet are necessary to avoid this problem.

There are several ways to treat big toe numbness. Some of the easier home remedies to treat it are performing some simple foot exercises, regular foot massages, wearing proper and 'sensible' shoes, stopping the activities that hurt the foot etc. It is said that prevention is better than cure. So why not take the necessary precautions to avoid suffering from this problem? However, if a person is suffering from this problem, it is recommended that he/she gets the problem diagnosed in time from the doctor, to avoid major problems later.