Why does my toe swell? The reasons for this pathological condition will be listed below. We will also tell you about which doctor you need to contact with such a phenomenon and what should be done in this case.
Basic information
If you have a swollen toe, this may indicate the presence of several diseases. However, you should not immediately panic, because such a phenomenon does not always indicate serious changes in the body. Very often this pathological condition is associated with wearing uncomfortable or tight shoes.
Which doctor should I contact?
What should I do if my toe is swollen? First of all, you should consult an experienced doctor. Several specialists can act as it. First you need to visit a local therapist. After the interview and examination, the doctor will be able to refer you to a narrower specialist.
If a person has a severe toe pain, they may need a consultation:
- neurologist;
- surgeon;
- endocrinologist;
- traumatologist;
- angiosurgeon;
- podologist.
Why is my big toe swollen? Likely Causes
The cause of such a pathology should be identified only by an experienced specialist. As medical practice shows, swelling, pain and redness of the phalanx on the lower extremities can be associated with the following diseases:
- arthrosis;
- gout;
- panaritium.
It should also be noted that this phenomenon is often caused by injuries and injuries of various kinds.
To understand how to treat a patient if he has a swollen toe, it is required to identify the presence of one or another deviation. Consider all the features of the above diseases in more detail.
Arthrosis of the joints
Swollen and reddened toe - such symptoms often indicate the development of arthrosis. This is a pathology caused by degenerative-dystrophic disorders in the cartilage tissue.
The reason for the development of such a disease may be deformation changes in the lower extremities (for example, flat feet or asymmetry). In overweight patients, this disease occurs in 58% of cases.
Also, everyday heavy physical activity can cause the development of arthrosis. If an athlete's toe is swollen, then this is not surprising. After all, the phalanges of the lower extremities in such people are very often deformed and swell against the background of regular bruises, injuries and sprains.
Thyroid gland diseases and disordersmetabolism are also becoming common causes of arthrosis.
Main symptoms
Arthrosis of the joint of the big toe can manifest itself in different ways. Conventionally, the course of such a pathology is divided into 3 stages:
- First - the patient has periodic pain in the foot, which most often occurs in the evening. They increase with increased load.
- Second - a person has a severe pain in his toe. Moreover, such sensations become regular and appear not only in the evening, but also in the daytime. The big toe is visibly deformed and swollen, and the bone on the leg becomes visible to the naked eye.
- Third - due to inflammation, the pain syndrome becomes unbearable, and the deformation of the phalanx increases significantly. The big toe goes down and this contributes to the physical changes of the nearby bones.
Diagnosis and treatment
Osteoarthritis should be diagnosed by a surgeon or rheumatologist. Sometimes only a visual inspection is enough to determine this disease.
The treatment of such a disease is complex. To do this, use NSAIDs and follow a diet, and also include physiotherapy and gymnastics in the daily routine.
Gout
If you have a swollen toe, this may indicate the development of gout. As a rule, such a disease occurs due to impaired metabolic processes. Most often, they are confirmed by men over 45 years old. If gout is not treated on time, it will completely destroyphalanx.
With this disease, the big toe swells up and hurts quite a lot. Such sensations are paroxysmal in nature and can last for 5-22 days. After 3 attacks, the phalanx begins to gradually collapse.
To relieve the pain of gout, cold can be applied to the affected area.
Gout treatment
Therapy of such a disease is complex. Her course includes magnetotherapy, laser therapy, ultraphonophoresis and massage using electrostatic fields.
It is pointless to treat a swelling of the thumb with gout on your own. Therapy should be carried out only in a specialized hospital.
Felon
Panaritium becomes a common cause of swelling and soreness of the big toe. This pathological phenomenon can be observed near the nail, on the back side under the epidermis, as well as under the nail and next to the periungual fold.
If all appropriate measures are not taken in time, the inflammatory process can quite easily go to the bone, tendon or joint.
The main symptoms of panaritium may be the following:
- phalanx swells a lot;
- thumb visibly blushes;
- pain sometimes has a "twitching" character;
- over time, a cyst appears on the finger, which is filled with pus and ichor.
The reason for the development of panaritium and, as a result, a tumor of the finger, is an inflammatory process that occurs due to infection in the tissue(for example, through burrs, cracks or micro-wounds).
Least of all, such a disease develops against the background of a fungal disease of the foot.
How to get rid of?
If you have a swollen big toe due to the development of panaritium, you should immediately consult a doctor in order to avoid serious complications that may contribute to foot deformity or gangrene.
The treatment of such an inflammatory process involves surgical opening of a purulent cavity, as well as drainage, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, treating the thumb with local antiseptics and using drugs that strengthen the immune system.
Various damages and injuries
If you hurt your toe, then very soon it may turn red and swell. However, such symptoms do not always occur after a strong blow to the lower limb. Sometimes the symptoms described come from subtle daily traumas that the person may not even be aware of.
People involved in physical labor or professional sports often experience pain in the area of the big toes. Experts attribute this to the fact that the load on the lower limbs of athletes is always colossal. At the same time, fingers that do not perform the main supporting function may simply not be able to cope with it. It is from this that damage occurs in the bones of the phalanges, including cracks and fractures. All these pathological phenomena are almost always accompanied by swelling and localized pain.
Methodstherapy
So what to do if you hurt your toe? If over time the injury site is swollen or reddened, then you should immediately contact a traumatologist. The same goes for the symptom of pain.
To detect damage to the phalanx, the doctor must examine and question the patient. However, this is not enough to diagnose a dislocation or fracture. For this purpose, the doctor may prescribe an x-ray. Further actions of a specialist should be aimed at immobilizing the injured area (for example, applying a cast), as well as prescribing painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the patient may be recommended to take calcium and B vitamins, which will contribute to the speedy recovery of the injured joint.
Other causes of swelling of the toe
If during the medical examination all of the above causes of swelling of the toe were rejected, then doctors prescribe additional research methods that will allow a more accurate diagnosis.
In addition to arthrosis, gout, panaritium and injuries, the following diseases can contribute to the development of such a pathological condition:
- Lymphedema - fluid retention associated with the pathology of the lymphatic system, and, as a result, swelling of the fingers.
- Venous insufficiency often leads to swelling of the ankles, fingers and lower legs, as well as cramps and pain in the legs.
- Splinter in the finger - when swollen, you should carefully check the fingers for the presence of a thorn or splinter.
- Allergic reactions, including insect stings and medications, also cause swollen toes.
- Various infectious processes, including bacterial and fungal, often lead to redness, swelling and itching of the toes.
If such conditions are suspected, a qualified doctor should be consulted immediately.
