Stop Pain in Your Big Toe

We provide comprehensive foot care services here at Premier Podiatry Group, all the way to the tip of your toes. When it comes to those valuable digits, there are many medical issues that can cause problems to arise.

Whereas any toe can potentially develop a problem, the big toe really gets the short end of the stick! Between bunions, turf toe, gout, and osteoarthritis, there are numerous reasons you may need to come to our Ebensburg office for effective foot care. When you do, we will determine the best way to stop pain in your big toe and get you back to your favorite activities.

Naturally, we will start by determining the root cause of the pain before we are able to address it. Given the fact that not all toe conditions are equally as likely to develop, some are more common than others. These can include:

• Bunions – When your big toe pain comes from a displaced joint at the base of the toe, you have a common deformity known as a bunion. This condition is progressive which means it cannot be reversed without surgery, but there are still nonsurgical methods that may be able to relieve your pain.

Medication, ice, orthotics, splinting, and padding are all potential parts of our bunion treatment plans.

• Turf Toe – This is a sports injury that can happen when the big toe extends too far backwards (up and towards your foot). The injury is most often sustained when the front of the foot “sticks” as the rest continues in a forward motion. Technically, we can refer to this as a sprained big toe, but it happens often on artificial turf (thus, its more common moniker).

Treatment usually will start with RICE therapy (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), and the icing part is especially beneficial for pain relief. Medication can be used to manage the big toe pain until you are able to come see us. Make sure to call for a professional recommendation with regards to dosage and type, though!

• Osteoarthritis of the Big Toe – You may not be aware of this, but there are actually numerous forms of arthritis. Many people generally think about one particular type – osteoarthritis. Don’t let the fancy name intimidate you; this is simply the “wear and tear over time” version of arthritis. It can happen to any joint in the body, but the base of the big toe is a major target (since we use that joint with literally every step we take).

If you have pain in your toe from this common form of arthritis, you may benefit from stretches, low-impact exercise, medication, a splint or brace, steroid injections, or even wearing a different style of shoe. Depending on the severity, surgery might be recommended.

Of course, the best way to stop pain in your big toe is to come see us here at Premier Podiatry Group. We will diagnose the condition responsible for the pain and then create a treatment plan to resolve it for you. If you’re ready to find the relief you are seeking, give us a call at (814) 472-2660 today.