Leg pain is a fairly frequent and unsafe complaint, regardless of the location of the center of its occurrence. Often this is only one of the symptoms of the disease, which can be determined only by a specialist. And if only the big toe hurts - can it be dangerous and is it worth it to bother the doctor about such a trifle? If you want to keep a beautiful light walk and healthy legs, it is necessary to consult a specialist anyway. Quite often, incomprehensible pain progresses, leading to temporary or permanent limping.
Sore big toe - causes
To get rid of excruciating pain, you need as quickly as possible to find out the cause and try to eliminate it. A huge number of factors due to which the big toe hurts, does not allow to consider all of them in detail, but it is desirable to know the most common ones.
1. Gout
The main reason for the "aristocratic" disease - a violation of the proper metabolism. Crystals of uric acid derivatives of sodium urate are deposited in the joints and gradually lead to its destruction. As a rule, an attack of gouty arthritis begins with a sharp pressing pain, usually at night. First, the big toe is painfully sore, then the accompanying symptoms are rapidly increasing - reddening of the skin around the joint, swelling of the tissues, temperature in the affected area increases, the pain spreads up the leg. It becomes a little easier during the day, but at night the unbearable pain returns with a new force. The inflammatory process can bring suffering for several days or even weeks. Exacerbations of gout are possible up to several times during the year, and their main causes are called:
- alcohol abuse;
- the presence of too much fatty foods in the menu;
- passion for strong tea and coffee.
Frequent attacks of gout can not be eliminated without proper diet. Representatives of a strong article often suffer from the disease, after forty years. Other joints may also be the target of gout attacks.
2. Arthrosis
The disease often plagues beautiful ladies and is evidence of their defeat in an unequal fight with capricious fashion. Wanting to keep up with the rapid run last, women courageously squeeze into narrow-nosed heels and with a sweet smile suffer the inconvenience and merciless squeezing of toes for a long time. As a result, the curvature of the thumb, the appearance of a non-aesthetic "bone" and the deformation of the joint. Periodically arising inflammatory process leads to an increase in the problem - the big toe hurts more and more painfully, at first only after a long walk, and later in a state of rest.
3. Uncomfortable shoes can cause another trouble - the ingrowth of the nail. In addition to tight shoes, this contributes to the too short trimming of the nails, the wrong rounding of their edges. In this case, the big toe hurts severely, the skin around the nail is red and swollen, pus accumulates inside. Independently deal with the problem is unlikely to succeed, you need to immediately contact a specialist.
4. Morton's Neuroma
The disease occurs due to the rebirth of fibrous tissue and its significant thickening as a result of wearing uncomfortable shoes with heels, exorbitant loads on the feet, injuries and flatfoot. The focus of pain occurs at the level of the fourth and third fingers, but it suffers and is big. The pain is felt at the base of the fingers and affects only one leg. It arises due to the infringement of certain nerve endings, gradually intensifies and makes even simple walking impossible.
5. Injuries
The most common fractures of the end phalanges of the thumb. Confirmation of injury in the first hours after the incident are the following signs:
- sore thumb toe even with passive movement;
- there is swelling;
- there are bruises on the back and side of the finger;
- there is pain when feeling.
In case of damage to the nail bed, there is a great chance of infection.
6. Bursitis
Moving, soft and round swelling around the joint, the purple color of the "glowing" skin and significantly affects the thumb to the foot - these are the main manifestations of inflammation of the articular bag called bursitis. If it appears as a result of an injury, then infection is possible. Bursitis becomes purulent, and to the initial symptoms are added:
- weakness and nausea;
- headache;
- increase in body temperature;
- unbearable pain spreads all over the foot.
It hurts a big toe in the company of younger colleagues and for other diseases:
- inflammation of the arterial vessels;
- diabetes;
- deformation and incorrect position of the foot;
- tendon lesions.
Sore big toe - treatment
When the pain in the big toe is necessary to contact the specialists - traumatologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist or surgeon. Trying to cope with the problem without knowing the diagnosis, one can only aggravate it. In the case when the big toe in the area of the joint hurts, the doctor prescribes a complete examination to determine the root cause. At the time of its holding should limit the load on the toes and feet.
Whatever the reason is not the culprit of the fact that a big toe hurts, treatment should begin with an effect on the underlying ailment. For example, in gout, the doctor recommends eliminating fatty foods from the diet, and in diabetes, controlling body weight. A surgeon or a specialist from the Department of Podology will help to get rid of an ingrown nail, and after an injury you should seek help from a trauma specialist.
If the joint is deformed and a bone is formed, folk remedies and special fixers will help in the initial stage. It is quite effective to perform special exercises that are recommended to be performed at least once a day, repeating each of them 5-6 times:
1. to stretch the usual gum with the big toes;
2. try to pick up small objects from the floor with your feet;
3. sitting on a chair, put your feet on the heels and push the fingers with force;
4. In the prone position, vigorously flex and bend the fingers.
A small soft roller, inserted between the thumb and second finger at every opportunity, will help to gradually return the “lost” finger to its usual place.
With treatment failure and pronounced deformity, surgical intervention is indicated. Modern methods of surgical treatment preserve the functionality and mobility of the joints. The rehabilitation period lasts for 1-2 months, during which the doctor recommends specialized shoes to avoid stress on the foot. Before deciding on an operation, carefully select a clinic. Success depends on the professionalism of the doctors and the reliability of the medical institution.
Sore big toe - treatment of folk remedies
In some cases, when your thumb hurts, you can use the simple secrets of traditional medicine. However, this should not be an alternative to treatment prescribed by the doctor.
1. With strong bruises of the thumb will help gruel of their onions. Relieve the pain and fresh leaves of the plantain or wormwood, bodyaga.
2. If the culprit is diabetes mellitus, tincture of celery root and decoction of walnuts partitions will be effective.
3. If the pain is caused by gout, compresses from fat or fresh fish, crushed onions, pulp from activated charcoal and alcohol will help relieve it.
4. With arthritis, they smear a sore spot with apple cider vinegar; they make lotions from tinctures of potato or bay leaf.
5. When arthrosis good fresh cabbage leaves, compresses from yogurt.
Especially many grandmother's recipes are offered for the treatment of bone with the deformation of the joint of the thumb:
- Make a mixture of 50 g of red clay, one tablespoon of sea salt and a glass of boiled water. Add 5 drops of turpentine, mix thoroughly and attach to the bones. Keep the mixture until it hardens, then rinse the skin thoroughly with warm water without detergent.
- Every day, make a comfortable foot bath of water with sea salt. It should not be warmer than body temperature, and the procedure lasts 15 minutes.
- Boil the potato peel, dilute the decoction with water and keep your feet for 15 minutes.
- The carcass of freshly caught fish with the bones removed from it is applied to the right place and is bandaged. In the morning, wash your foot with warm water and lubricate the stone with fir oil.
However, all these funds are aimed, rather, at alleviating pain. You should not hope too much only not grandmother's advice, it is much more effective to combine their implementation with the treatment prescribed by a doctor.
Sore big toe - prevention
The most successful treatment of any disease is its prevention. So that you don’t have to complain to the doctor that your toe hurts, try to follow some tips:
- Do not wear uncomfortable and too narrow shoes, fingers should be in a free position;
- if you have to stand for a long time, distribute the forced load on the legs equally, change the supporting leg;
- high heels - not for walking on them for a whole day, the optimal period is 3-4 hours;
- do not get carried away with too fatty foods, alcohol and smoking, limit the consumption of coffee and strong tea;
- when there are signs of increasing bone, use the fixative and do special exercises;
- Carefully care for your feet, do not allow skin to harden and properly trim your nails;
- Avoid all kinds of injuries, and in case of an incident, seek professional medical assistance immediately.
Normal weight, comfortable shoes, proper nutrition and attentive attitude to your health are a real chance to keep healthy and beautiful legs to a great age!
