What Causes Pain In Both The Big Toes?

I am having sever pain in both my big toes, my nails are almost too thick to cut, Its moving into my second toe on my right foot. Its very very painful. It woke me up at 4 am, the pain made me jump clean out of bed onto my feet. Like a yellow jacket stinging me in the toe over and over again. I am asking if I need to have my nails removed? My mother had hers taken off, not sure why? I have tried every over the counter meds. Nothing keeps it from coming back. It has cleared up with fungi nail that i paint on but it seems like I have to keep using it. I want cure