What Causes Sharp Pain In Big Toe With Purple Bruising?

Posted on Mon, 2 Jun 2014

Question: Hi Dr. Grief. This will sound really silly but here goes. Saturday night when climbing the stairs I felt a sharp pain in my big toe on the right foot. Whatever I did caused an purple bruising. It was fine the next day but bruised. Yesterday afternoon I started with a what feels like a pin sticking into the very tip of the toe when I put weight on it. It even feels that way to touch it or something as light as a sheet will cause the pin like pain. Would appreciate your opinion. Thank you, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It will need few test to tell exact cause.

Detailed Answer:
Hello madam,
I have read your problem and I have sympathy for you.

After reading your case two diagnosis came in my mind.

1. It can be acute attack of Gout. This is collection of uric acid in joint. Sudden onset of sharp pain and discolouration of skin of great toe is typical feature in Gout.

2. Other possibility can be hairline fracture of great toe.

To confirm diagnosis I would like to recommend you to get x ray of the foot and serum uric acid level. These two test will give us fair idea about the right diagnosis. Please send me reports of these two tests.

I will try my best to help you. Thanks and take care.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj