The condition is more common in athletes who play on artificial turf. The signs and symptoms of a light infection include: pain and/or tenderness, swelling, redness, and increased warmth in the area. Ointment, gel or cream with povidone-iodine is used for disinfection. Health care professionals do not recommend treating an infected ingrown toenail. If pedicure tools arentsterilized properly, you can get skin and nail infections, which may show upimmediately or later even months later. Tripped and bumped big toe and its now swollen and extremely painful, unable to bend it. Every pound you lose will help reduce this pressure and the pain or soreness in your lower extremities. Ingrown toenails that are not showing signs of infection can be treated at home. The podiatrist will only advise nail surgery if it is the best solution to your problematic nail. The following treatments can help relieve pain and promote the healing of an ingrown toenail. If you have stubbed or injured your toe, the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method is a good way to numb the pain. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science 38.2 (2015). Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. A podiatrist may offer further treatments, such as: Youll have an injection of local anaesthetic to numb your toe when this is done. How long does nail surgery take to heal. A bunion is a deformity of the joint at the base of the big toe. Often you will arrive home from your day or sport and feel completely fine, then later out of nowhere your big toe may start to throb. In cases of sudden injury or unexplained pain, a person should see their doctor for diagnosis and treatment. For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). A small basin should be filled with warm water, and 1/2 cup Epsom salt should be added. Paronychia. Many causes of pain in the big toe are treatable. The first step in any pedicure is to soak your feet. Fungal infections might be difficult to cure and may require months of treatment. This evening after a long soak I was using a nail tool to try and detect if it was the beginning of an ingrown toenail due to the cutting performed on the side of the nail. So what can you do to identify and manage some common foot-health issues? In this case, 88% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. In many cases, the cause is easy to treat and fully curable. I assume this is because of poor hygiene condition in the salon. Never attempt to lift your ingrown toenail with cotton or dental floss. To treat an ingrown toenail, your doctor might lift the nail and place a piece of cotton or a splint underneath it. This article provides more information on common causes of pain in the big toe, along with some of their symptoms and treatments. First, try soaking your feet in warm water. 1. This can lead to pain and discomfort, and should be treated promptly to prevent further issues. During this time you will not be able to have a bath or go swimming. Do this three to four times a day. You may also benefit from wider shoes, orthotics such as inserts or padding, or the RICE method. (2011). The pain will subside after a day or two. That means keeping up with your hygiene, and treating your feet right when you see something that might irritate them. Other prevention tips include: wearing well-fitting shoes keeping. If youre concerned about an infection in your toe, you should schedule an appointment with a podiatrist before attempting to treat painful symptoms at home. Other possible symptoms include: pain if pressure is placed on the toe; inflammation of the skin at the end of the toe Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. A change in the thickness of your toenails may be just one symptom of a fungal infection. If you cant see your feet or nails very well, you should visit a podiatrist to have your nails trimmed, rather than doing it yourself. Any toe can be affected but it is usually the big toe. Keeping your feet clean and dry will greatly reduce the amount of discomfort you feel. While there may be many causes of pain in the toes, the remedies are usually simple and universal. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Published June 2017. Try One of These 10 Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus, The Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis of 2023, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, How to Treat Plantar Warts at Home Naturally, Glycemic Index: What It Is and How to Use It, toenails that change in color to yellow, brown, or green, toenails that can lift up from the nail bed, toenails with dirt and other debris under them, in a cut in your skin that touches your toenail, being barefoot in public places with wet floors, such as swimming pools, showers, and gyms, medications that suppress your immune system. Keep your feet clean and dry. A lump, big toe bump, pain, or swelling in your MTP joint can be a symptom of several different conditions that can lead to debilitating problems. Your toes can often be susceptible to fungal infections because of exposure to wet areas. Instead of letting the problem get worse, know the warning signs. It is really painful, and you should really let them know to "ward off" anymore needless human suffering! Ryan DH, Yockey SR. This could only introduce bacteria into the affected area. An initial Podiatry consultation is 55. In this case, you should go to the ER immediately. Home > Bones & Joints > Foot Health > 5 Home Remedies for a Sore Big Toe and Self-Care Tips. Do this three to four times a day. Toenails might thicken to the point that they cause discomfort when you try to wear shoes, or even make it more difficult to walk. This will help the nail grow away from your skin. Signs and symptoms often include itching, scaling, cracking and redness. Black toenails are attributed to a variety of causes, some of which resolve on their own. All rights reserved. For an infected ingrown toenail, or if you arent sure you can deal with treating yours at home, a podiatrist can perform the procedure under a local anesthetic. Although you can do many things to treat an infected toe at home, its important to understand when you need to seek medical care. Big toe pain is a common yet annoying problem to deal with. Sports injuries, falls or car accidents can damage or even sever your peripheral nerves. Around 1 percent to 8 percent of the population has a diagnosis of onychomycosis, and its occurrence grows. (10) Consult your doctor for the proper guidance. Athlete's foot, known medically as tinea pedis, is a common skin infection of the feet caused by a fungus. Soaking your feet can reduce the swelling. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more. Embedment of the nail in the surrounding skin causes pain, redness as well as swelling. Journal of Food Protection 70.5 (2007): 1194-1199. It may be necessary to remove part of the nail. An infection in the toe can range from the relatively mild infection of an ingrown toenail or toenail fungus, to more serious infections of the skin (abscesses or cellulitis). One example is Panadol, which is paracetamol. Rest, apply ice, and elevate If you have stubbed or injured your toe, the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method is a good way to numb the pain. You cut the nail too short, or you cut the cuticle around the nail. Diabetes and Yellow Nails: Is There a Connection? You can try soaking in warm wa. It might include a prolonged period of wearing a cast and not bearing weight on the foot. And diabetic nerve damage can prevent you from feeling minor trauma that could lead to a toe infection. If your ingrown toenail doesntshow any of the signs of infection swelling, hot to the touch, oozing, foulodor you might just try letting the nail grow out. These include: If you take oral medication prescriptions, you may need routine blood testing, as some of these medications can affect the liver. If you have toe pain, a pharmacist can advise you about: This video demonstrates exercises that can help reduce toe pain. Recommended Reading: How Does Gel Nail Polish Work. An ingrown toenail is also known as onychocryptosis. If you have diabetes, you should take extra care when cutting your nails: Cut the nail straight across or follow the shape of the end of the toe, but be very careful not to cut too low at the sides as above. You can consult a podiatrist or physiotherapist to get some guidance on the correct way to perform gentle stretching exercises for toe pain. If you can manage to track several days of your big toe pain, it may be easier to determine the cause (and figure out the proper treatment! Look for redness, swelling, pus, and other signs of infection. Toenails grow slowly, and they can take 12 to 18 months to grow out. See a doctor for prescription medication to clear up a serious infection. Place a small piece of cotton or waxed dental floss underneath to hold the nail away from your skin. They pull out heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, uranium, and so forth. Toe stretchers are usually made of plastic or silicone and sit in between your toes. Pain in the big toe joint may be accompanied by stiffness, swelling, or a grinding sensation. This condition is common in runners and ballet dancers. Nail salons perform pedicures, a cosmetic treatment where nail technicians soak feet, remove dead skin and paint toenails, which can transfer fungus or bacteria to a client if one isn't careful . In most cases, a person can expect a full recovery if they treat the underlying condition or rest from the activity that caused the injury in the first place. Its normally caused by a bacterium. The itch was a total distraction. Does your big toe pain subside after rest, ice, or movement? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5497590/. Your doctor might have to drain the blister. If lifting doesn't work, the doctor can remove part or all of the affected nail. These include: topical medications oral medications laser. You can try a variety of home-based methods to treat nail fungus. Arthritis, fractures, and gout may all cause big toe pain. See the doctor more often if you have any known foot problems, like an ingrown toenail. Its a well-known fact that diabetes affects the feet. Heres an easy and simple stretching exercise: Toe stretchers are products designed to separate your toes from each other and also from your soles. 1 Blisters on Toes: Causes and Treatments - Verywell Health; 2 Caring for an Infected or Ingrown Toenail - Intermountain Healthcare . They may give you oral or topical medication depending on the underlying cause. My big toe and the area around it is red, swollen, and painful. Soak the toe in equal parts warm water and antibacterial soap for 15 minutes once a day. Keep careful track of what works to relieve your pain, including diet and exercise and any changes in pain levels before, during, and after. Read Also: What Nail Polish Stays On The Longest. Ingrown toenails are a common problem but that doesnt mean you should ignore them. (1) Advertisements The next most common area is the bottom of the foot. Diagnosis of onychomycosis: From conventional techniques and dermoscopy to artificial intelligence. You should soak for about 15 minutes once a day. Published November 2013. While superficial infections are usually relatively mild and can be easily treated at home, a serious infection needs medical treatment. Research and Reports in Biology 6 (2015): 215-224. Also Check: Sneeze Guards For Manicure Tables. If your toe pain continues, it may be best to consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis. It can negatively impact your balance and ability to walk and interfere with your everyday activities. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? The podiatrist explained that this problem is common among his patients. A small amount of acid is often put on the exposed part of the nail bed. Youll also want to protect your toe while it heals. Alternatively, soak your toe in apple cider vinegar, which has antimicrobial properties to help fight your infection. Your doctor will typically look at your nails to diagnose the condition. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google There are a wide variety of causes for having big toe pain at night. You should experience some pain relief after soaking your feet. The kneecap, for example, is the largest sesamoid. Athlete's foot fungus may infect any part of the foot, but most often grows between the toes. Nonsurgical treatments may involve: An ingrown toenail is a common cause of pain or discomfort in the big toe. This can become painful. Subungual hematoma refers to a painful condition caused by a buildup of . In rare cases the skin may blister. Elevation: Keep your foot elevated to reduce swelling. The AAOS note that fractures may occur when a person: Pain and swelling of the toe are two common symptoms, but a person may also notice discoloration around the toe. Warm water can also be a similar quick remedy for pain. (9). Toe pain caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes is a common problem among all age groups. Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/Cure-an-Infected-Toe-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Cure-an-Infected-Toe-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f1\/Cure-an-Infected-Toe-Step-9.jpg\/aid7458254-v4-728px-Cure-an-Infected-Toe-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"