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Suggest Treatment For Stabbing Pain In The Toes
Posted on
Sun, 4 Sep 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 4 Sep 2016
Answered on
Mon, 26 Sep 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Sorry to keep asking questions...
My only question is related to my big toe; last night and filtering in to today (all day today), my right big toe has had a sharp stabbing pain going throughout it (mostly the tip, but will very occasionally go throughout the ball). I don't remember hurting my toe or foot but I did wear "regular" shoes on a very tough steel grate-like platform for about 3 hours yesterday. I'm seeing my general doc on Tuesday for something unrelated but I'm going to try and squeeze in a diabetes test (to see if I have it), as I'm pretty overweight. I should mention that my other toes and other toes on the other foot are all fine.
What could this toe issue possibly be (diabetes, gout, a random kink (maybe from working on that platform))? I'm just curious if I should be concerned about losing the toe (I know, hypochondriatic a bit).
Thank you so much,
XXXX
My only question is related to my big toe; last night and filtering in to today (all day today), my right big toe has had a sharp stabbing pain going throughout it (mostly the tip, but will very occasionally go throughout the ball). I don't remember hurting my toe or foot but I did wear "regular" shoes on a very tough steel grate-like platform for about 3 hours yesterday. I'm seeing my general doc on Tuesday for something unrelated but I'm going to try and squeeze in a diabetes test (to see if I have it), as I'm pretty overweight. I should mention that my other toes and other toes on the other foot are all fine.
What could this toe issue possibly be (diabetes, gout, a random kink (maybe from working on that platform))? I'm just curious if I should be concerned about losing the toe (I know, hypochondriatic a bit).
Thank you so much,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Toe pain:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
No need to apologize for asking questions. You've paid for our services.
That this pain only started today, and followed 3 hours of standing yesterday, makes me think that your toe sustained some trauma or stress from standing on the platform. It doesn't matter that the other toes are fine. It could just be the way your were standing with this toe and how the shoe fit.
Yes, diabetes and gout can cause pain in the great toe. With gout, the pain is in the joint, and with diabetes, it would be an advanced symptom of neuropathy after having had uncontrolled blood sugars for years.
Give your foot a rest as much as possible now, and the pain will likely go away. If not, the doc can examine your foot on Tuesday, and if the pain is considerable, will get an X-ray of your foot.
For now, if you want, you can take ibuprofen (after eating so you have food in your stomach) up to 3 times a day.
But I think it should be getting better by the time you see your doctor.
Toe pain:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
No need to apologize for asking questions. You've paid for our services.
That this pain only started today, and followed 3 hours of standing yesterday, makes me think that your toe sustained some trauma or stress from standing on the platform. It doesn't matter that the other toes are fine. It could just be the way your were standing with this toe and how the shoe fit.
Yes, diabetes and gout can cause pain in the great toe. With gout, the pain is in the joint, and with diabetes, it would be an advanced symptom of neuropathy after having had uncontrolled blood sugars for years.
Give your foot a rest as much as possible now, and the pain will likely go away. If not, the doc can examine your foot on Tuesday, and if the pain is considerable, will get an X-ray of your foot.
For now, if you want, you can take ibuprofen (after eating so you have food in your stomach) up to 3 times a day.
But I think it should be getting better by the time you see your doctor.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor. Im a bit of a hypochondriac and i dont want to lose the toes or foot due to me trying to control my weight (but not losing any weight as of yet), resulting in something like diabetes. I was told that i was prediabetic years ago, so i then lost weight. Having since gained most of it back, i fear the worst. But i will elevate and rest it :)
Brief Answer:
Checking blood sugar.
Detailed Answer:
When you see your doctor, ask him or her to please order a fasting blood sugar and an A1C. The A1C will show an average of your sugars over the past 2 months and can be used for diagnosing pre-diabetes and diabetes. A fasting sugar can be used also. The good thing is that pre-diabetes is usually reversible with exercise, weight loss, and dietary control.
It is hard to lose weight and keep it off! I hear you!
As I mentioned, diabetic neuropathy is usually a late symptom. I would expect that you would have had other symptoms of diabetes before developing something like that.
Checking blood sugar.
Detailed Answer:
When you see your doctor, ask him or her to please order a fasting blood sugar and an A1C. The A1C will show an average of your sugars over the past 2 months and can be used for diagnosing pre-diabetes and diabetes. A fasting sugar can be used also. The good thing is that pre-diabetes is usually reversible with exercise, weight loss, and dietary control.
It is hard to lose weight and keep it off! I hear you!
As I mentioned, diabetic neuropathy is usually a late symptom. I would expect that you would have had other symptoms of diabetes before developing something like that.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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