Pain in the toes appears with traumatic injuries, deformities of the feet, inflammatory, degenerative diseases. Often becomes a consequence of dermatological diseases. It is observed in some vascular and nervous pathologies. It can be weak, intense, dull, sharp, pulling, burning, aching, twitching, bursting, short-term, intermittent or constant. To find out the cause of pain in the toes, a survey, external examination, additional studies: x-rays, ultrasound, laboratory tests are carried out. Until the diagnosis is clarified, rest is recommended, sometimes it is possible to take analgesics.
The most common traumatic cause of pain in the toes is bruises on impact, tripping, or falling heavy objects. Pain is moderate, subsides within a few days. The support is preserved, sometimes limited due to pain. The finger is swollen, bruising is possible. When hitting the distal phalanx, a subungual hematoma may form, which is accompanied by arching, throbbing pain in the nail area, edema, and local hyperthermia. The intensity of pain gradually decreases from 2-3 days.
A finger fracture occurs for the same reasons as a bruise, but the pain with such an injury is sharp, explosive, slightly decreasing over time. Support on the distal part of the foot is not possible. On palpation, a sharp pain is determined, a positive symptom of axial load, crepitus. Sometimes there are deformities. Dislocations of the toes are rare, they are manifested by acute pain, characteristic deformity, springy resistance, violation of the support.
With chilliness of the toes, which occurs against the background of hypothermia and high humidity, bursting burning pains, itching, sensitivity disorders, pronounced edema, purple-bluish coloration of the skin are found. In the first minutes after frostbite, the pain is weak, tingling. Then the pain increases rapidly, becomes acute, burning, unbearable. Fingers swell, turn blue. Bubbles form. In severe cases, areas of necrosis are formed.
Pain in the toes
The cause of the symptom is often arthritis of various etiologies. Pain in arthritis worsens in the morning, during physical exertion, combined with stiffness of movements, swelling and redness of the skin, varying from minor, short-term to intense, permanent. For rheumatoid arthritis, a symmetrical lesion of the interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints is typical.
In psoriatic arthritis, the distal joints of the foot are involved in the process. Post-traumatic arthritis is manifested by damage to one joint. Nonspecific infectious polyarthritis occurs against the background of acute infectious diseases. The pains are sharp, strong, disturb both during movements and at rest, are complemented by redness, local swelling of the soft tissues. Not only fingers hurt, but also other joints of the lower extremities.
For arthritis of the toes, developing as a result of overload with flat feet and overweight, a chronic undulating course with a moderate pain syndrome is characteristic. Another type of arthritis due to overload is "ballerina's disease", in which the symptoms are often more pronounced due to repeated traumatization of the joints.
Deforming arthrosis of the toes is diagnosed in old age, in young people it is observed after injuries, with deformities of the foot, in particular with a hammer toe. Accompanied by "starting pain", aching, pulling painful sensations, the severity of which depends on physical activity. At first, the pains are short-term, later - long-term, subsiding only after rest. In the final stages, the pain becomes constant, combined with restriction of movements, external deformations.
Aseptic periostitis develops against the background of injuries, chronic diseases of the toes. It is characterized by slight or moderate pain, tenderness on palpation of the bone. Purulent periostitis is formed when the infection spreads from wounds or nearby foci. Severe jerking pains, an increase in body temperature are revealed. When the infectious process spreads to the bone, osteomyelitis of the phalanges of the fingers occurs. The pain intensifies, the general condition worsens.
Panaritium on the legs is found much less frequently than on the hands. It is manifested by increasing pains, which quickly transform from dull to sharp, twitching, pulsating, accompanied by significant edema, hyperemia. After a sleepless night, an abscess forms. Involvement of superficial soft tissues, bones, joints, sinews is possible. The severity of general symptoms depends on the extent of the lesion.
When rubbing shoes on the toes, water calluses appear. At the initial stage, the pain is unclear, of moderate intensity. Subsequently, pain intensifies, a bubble forms on the skin. Pressure, touch become sharply painful. If the integrity of the bladder is violated, a red weeping surface is exposed, the pain becomes raw. Corn abscesses on the feet are rare. Manifested by twitching pain, decreasing when lifting the leg, swelling, hyperemia.
Calluses are more often found on the plantar side of the fingers. There is no pain at rest. When walking, pressing, painful sensations are noted, resembling pain with a splinter. Deep root germination can provoke bleeding, significant walking difficulties. In the process of inspection, a depression with an elevation in the center is revealed.
Patients with an ingrown nail complain of pain in the corner of the nail with pressure, shoes, walking. In an acute course, the pain intensifies, the finger swells, turns red, panaritium is formed. The chronic form is characterized by the periodic appearance of pain after wearing tight shoes, prolonged standing, walking. With onychogryphosis, patients are initially disturbed by unpleasant sensations in the zone of the nail plate, which are aggravated by pressure. Then the nail thickens, deforms, and begins to cause severe pain when walking in any shoes.
Pain in the toes is noted in patients with arterial lesions, combined with pain in the feet and legs. At first, pain develops when walking for long distances, subsequently the distance decreases, in the later stages the pain persists even at rest. The symptom is found in the following obliterating diseases of the lower extremities:
Pain in the fingers and feet can also be observed with angioedema. Erythromelalgia is characterized by a sudden, sharp, burning, burning pain against the background of overheating or compression, spreading to both feet. In Raynaud's syndrome, pain, on the contrary, occurs after cooling. The period of cold snap and numbness of the fingers is replaced by bursting, burning, aching pain.
Burning shooting pains in two fingers (more often in 3 and 4) are observed with Morton's neuroma. Provoked by walking, tight shoes. Intensify over time, do not disappear at rest. Irradiation to the fingers is noted with neuropathy of the medial plantar nerve, common digital nerves.
Pain in the toes can be detected in the following diseases:
Traumatologists-orthopedists are engaged in the diagnosis of diseases accompanied by pain in the toes. If necessary, rheumatologists, surgeons, dermatologists, and other specialists are involved in the examination. The survey plan includes:
Inspection of a traumatologist-orthopedist
In case of injuries, give the foot an elevated position, apply an ice pack or a heating pad with cold water. Fractures are fixed with a splint or a special bandage. Insulating bandages are applied to patients with frostbite. With non-traumatic lesions, they provide rest to the leg, sometimes painkillers and local anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
Dislocations are reduced, in case of displaced fractures, reposition is performed, immobilization is carried out. For pain in the fingers, the following conservative measures can be applied:
Taking into account the nature of the pathology, the following surgical interventions are performed:
After operations, dressings are performed, painkillers and antibacterial agents are prescribed. Patients are referred for physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises.