Toe Pain Causes

Foot pain is a very common type of pain, as most people may experience some type of foot pain at least once during their lifetime. Foot pain can occur in any part of the foot including the toes, the ball of the foot, the arch of the foot, sole, heel, the ankle or the instep. The occurrence of foot pain increases with age.

Causes of Toe Pain

To find the answer to what causes pain in big toe, middle or small toe, we will have to find answers to some questions. The first step to find the cause of toe pain at night, is to check if you can see any signs of injury on the toe, this will help in finding the most obvious cause. You may want to try walking barefoot or with well-fitting shoes. This will help to find out, if the middle, small or big pain is caused due to ill-fitting footwear. If the pain still persists, you will have to find out the exact cause of the problem.

One of the most prominent cause is the presence of corn. Corn is nothing but a type of toe callus, which develops because of repetitive friction. The corns have a core, which often exert pressure on the nerves of the toe, which causes intense pain. This pain is often caused as a result of pressure on the toe, due to ill-fitting shoes or socks, which are too tight for comfort around the toe area. This is often one of the causes of big toe pain. To prevent toe pain caused, due to corn it is recommended, that you wear proper fitting shoes and wear small pads, that will absorb friction.

You may want to check the toe for change in skin or toenail color to find out the causes of toe pain. The small and middle toe pain can be related to ingrown toenail. You will also have to check, if you notice redness, swelling or soreness on one or both sides of the toenail. Damage to a nerve in the foot can also be a cause of toe pain.

More often than not small toe pain, may be related to bone fracture or broken bone. You will have to check the alignment of a toe to check, if there are any changes in the alignment. Trauma, caused due to dropping a heavy object on the toes or due to repeated pressure or stress on the toes and there is misalignment, it is recommended, that a physician be consulted. In case the bone is broken, it is imperative that the bone is set in its place, else it can impede the bone's ability to heal properly.

One of the big toe pain causes can be hallux rigidus, which is a degenerative form of arthritis. This can be caused due to a history of repeated sports injuries. This can cause a significant amount of discomfort and may also have an impact on the ability to walk. This pain can also be accompanied by pain in the lower back.

Apart from the mentioned causes, gout, a form of arthritis can also be a cause of painful toe. This arthritis is caused due to formation of uric acid crystals , which form on connective tissue or in the synovial fluid. This is the fluid, that is responsible for cushioning the joints. These crystals are very sharp and may often cause acute inflammatory process, which is causes pain. An attack of gout often starts with severe and sudden pain in the big toe.

The treatment for toe pain, depends on toe pain causes. Normally anti-inflammatory medicines may be used to treat for toe pain, which is caused due to inflammation. If the pain is severe, pain killers can also be used. However, it is better to seek medical help and evaluate the condition, to avoid any further complications.