What Causes Pain in Toe Joints?

If you're like most people, you probably take your feet for granted. But if you're one of the millions of Americans who suffer from pain in the toe joints, those feet may be a constant source of misery.

So, what causes toe pain, and what can be done about it?

Toe joint pain can be caused by a number of factors¹, although two of the most common are bunions and arthritis.

If you've been wondering "What's causing that pain in my big toe joint?", we may have explanations for you below.

Bunions 

Bunions are recognizable by the bump that appears at the first joint of your big toe, and by the tendency for the big toe to be pointed inward toward the other toes. It may be a painful condition and may be triggered by genetics or by wearing poorly fitting shoes. There are non-surgical treatment options your doctor may suggest such as wearing comfortable, flat shoes and inserting arch supports in your shoes. When these don't bring relief, surgical options may be considered.

Arthritis 

Your big toe may be troubled by rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or psoriatic arthritis. These arthritic conditions may cause symptoms affecting bunions. This could include the big toe pointing inward or consistent discomfort and pain. Treatment options your physician may suggest can include pain medications, steroid shots, physical therapy, and for severe cases, surgery.

Turf toe 

Turf toe is generally associated with a sports injury², and may occur when athletes play on artificial turf surfaces, hence the name. When a great deal of pressure is used to push the foot away from the turf, as in football moves, ligaments may tear in the area around the big toe. In the immediate aftermath of sustaining turf toe, your physician may recommend ice for relief and a period of resting and healing.

Sesamoiditis 

The sesamoid bones in your body are two tiny bones situated under the first metatarsal, near the big toe. These two bones may be susceptible to pain and inflammation and may be injured during activities involving jumping such as basketball or ballet. A period of rest may be recommended by your doctor to allow the sesamoids to heal. Healing may be helped by using shoe orthotics and inserting padding on the balls of the feet.

Gout 

Gout is characterized by intense flare-ups of pain, and these may come and go for weeks on end. It's a condition that occurs when uric acid builds up in joints and becomes crystallized. In half of all occurrences of gout, the first signs of the condition appear in the big toe. The treatment most doctors will recommend for gout³ consists of taking anti-inflammatory medications, and behavioral modification such as more exercise, better diet, and elimination of alcohol.

What's causing your pain? 

If you’re experiencing toe joint pain, it’s important to consult your doctor and find out which treatment is best for you. There are many potential causes of this type of pain, so the sooner you can get a diagnosis, the sooner you can start working on managing pain relief.

References

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/big-toe-pain

2. https://www.verywellhealth.com/causes-of-pain-at-the-big-toe-joint-1337792

3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372903