Introduction
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.
How to ease toe pain yourself
If you see a GP about toe pain, 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) wrapped 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
use painkillers such as paracetamol ↗ or ibuprofen gel ↗ (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)
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 walk or stand for long periods
do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
If you have toe pain, a pharmacist can advise you 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
See a GP if:
- pain in your toe is stopping you 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 diabetes and foot pain – 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
- 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 doing daily activities
Go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E if:
- you have badly hurt your big toe
- you're in severe pain
- you feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
- you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your foot
- your toe is pointing at an odd angle
- you heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of injury
- you have difficulty moving your toes or you cannot walk
These might be signs of a badly broken toe after an injury.
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
- 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 doing daily activities
Causes of toe pain
A sore toe is often caused by exercising too much or wearing shoes that are too tight.
Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing your toe pain.
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Pain or swelling around the nail, nail curls into the toe | Ingrown toe nail ↗ |
| 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 a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.