There are lots of causes of toe pain. You can usually ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.
Easing toe pain
If you see your GP, they'll usually suggest trying these things:
Do
-
rest and raise your foot when you can
-
put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) in a towel on your toe for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
-
wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
-
take paracetamol
-
buddy strap a broken toe – put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between your sore toe and the next toe, and use tape to loosely strap it up (do not do this for a big toe or a badly broken toe)
-
try regular gentle stretching exercises
Don't
-
do not take ibuprofen for the first 48 hours after an injury
-
do not walk or stand for long periods
-
do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
Ask your pharmacist about:
- the best painkiller to take
- insoles and pads for your shoes
- treatments for common skin and nail problems
- if you need to see a GP
When to contact your GP
Contact your GP if:
- the pain is severe or stopping you from doing normal activities
- the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
- the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
- you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your foot
- you have diabetes – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes
What we mean by severe pain
Severe pain:
- always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
- you cannot sleep
- it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
- you cannot work due to the pain
Moderate pain:
- always there
- makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
- you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Mild pain:
- comes and goes
- is annoying but does not stop you from doing things like going to work
When to go to the emergency department (ED)
Emergency action required: Go to your nearest ED if you:
- have badly hurt your big toe
- are in severe pain
- feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
- have a toe that is pointing out at an odd angle
- heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of injury
- have difficulty moving your toes or you cannot walk
These might be signs of a badly broken toe after an injury.
Causes of toe pain
Common causes of a sore toe are exercising too much or wearing shoes that are too tight.
Your symptoms may help you find the cause of your toe pain.
Some of the possible causes of toe pain:
| Pain or swelling around the nail, your nail curls into the toe | ingrown toenail |
| Hard bony lump near the big toe | bunion |
| Pain, tingling and numbness when you're cold or stressed, toes can change colour | Raynaud's or chilblains |
| Pain, swelling, red or bruised toe, hurts to walk | broken toe |
| Sudden pain, stiffness, red or hot swollen skin around the toe joint | gout |
Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.
Follow the advice on this page and see your GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
