Toe pain
There are multiple causes of toe pain. Often, you can ease the pain by yourself, but if it doesn’t improve, consult a doctor.
How to ease toe pain
- Try to rest and raise your foot whenever you can
- Place an ice pack on your toe for 20 minutes every 2–3 hours
- Wear comfortable, wide shoes with no or low heels and soft sole
- Take paracetamol
- Gently strap a broken toe. Put a tiny piece of cotton or gauze between your sore toe and use tape to strap it up loosely
- Practice gentle stretching exercises
- Don’t take ibuprofen after an injury for 48 hours
- Don’t stand or walk for a long time
- Avoid high heels or tightly pointed shoes
Toe pain causes
- Sore toe
- Ingrown toenail
- Bunion (hard bone lumps near the toe)
- Broken toe
- Gout
- Raynaud’s syndrome
Consult a doctor if
- Your toe pain stops you from day-to-day activities
- Your toe pain keeps coming back or getting worse
- The pain doesn’t improve after two weeks
- You have foot pain and diabetes
Seek immediate medical help, if:
- You badly hurt your big toe
- You are in severe pain
- You feel dizzy or sick from the pain
- You have any loss of sensation or tingling feeling in your foot
- Your heard grinding, popping, or a snap noise at the time of injury
- You having a hard time moving your toes or are unable to walk
- Your toe is pointing at an odd angle
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022