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Original poster

Sore toe with pic

18 replies

Serena1977 · 09/09/2025 19:21

I am hobbling around because my big toe is so sore on the side. I've always had a lump there and a matching on one the other big toe but they have never hurt until now.

It's faintly red but not hot to touch. The lump is no bigger than normal but by gum it's so painful that I am trying to walk off my big toe!

Any ideas please?

Sore toe with pic
OP posts:
MissMoneyFairy · 09/09/2025 19:22

Can't see a photo buf it sounds like bunions

wiminny · 09/09/2025 19:34

Could be gout. Now that's a very painful thing. It doesn't look to me from the pic that you have a bunion - in the place where I'd normally expect to see a big bony lump on the side of the toe/foot. It could be a thing called sesamoiditis, which runners can get, or indeed you could have a tiny fracture there.

Whatever it is, the pain in that area can be awful. I know since I had gout a few years ago, it was excruciating pain, but (touch wood) haven't had another attack since.

Original poster
Serena1977 · 09/09/2025 19:36

Thanks @MissMoneyFairy I thought that but looking at Dr Google's pictures, bunions are further down the toe near the base, this is right next to the nail.

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Original poster
Serena1977 · 09/09/2025 19:37

@wiminny I thought gout but again, I thought that was at the base, or can it affect the whole of the toe?

OP posts:
MissMoneyFairy · 09/09/2025 19:37

Seeing it looks maybe gout like pp said, do you suffer with arthritis, is the top of your foot a bit swollen, is that normal for you.

wiminny · 09/09/2025 19:42

OP, well the gout attack I got was on one toe only and I couldn't touch it from beside the nail up to where a bunion would be. But that's just me.

BTW is your foot swollen at all, it looks puffy to me. Might all be connected. I'd get it checked out if no better in a day or so. I was given a blood test for urate levels and treated with colchisine. But OMG was it painful!

GardenGaff · 09/09/2025 19:47

Is your whole foot normally that swollen?

Around your big toenail especially looks terribly swollen. Actually around your second toenail looks red and swollen too.

Could you be having some kind of reaction to whatever gel polish is on your toenails?

TomatoSandwiches · 09/09/2025 19:49

Your whole foot looks swollen, perhaps there's an infection under a nail that's spread?

Original poster
Serena1977 · 09/09/2025 20:02

My feet do get swollen a bit but feet are a but chunky too and its bent at a funny angle as well but the rest of the feet are all good.

I'm thinking gout. Thanks for all your help. Will ring GP tomorrow!

OP posts:
whimsicallyprickly · 09/09/2025 20:45

Unless your foot itself is normally that puffy, I'd get it checked out. How's your BP?

PigletSanders · 09/09/2025 21:15

Your feet look very, very swollen. That could be related to blood pressure/cardiac health. Or even medication if you’re on anything.

You could have an infection in the side of your nail? See a GP. Mention the swelling, it looks quite extreme.

Endofyear · 09/09/2025 21:18

The skin looks red and angry around your big toenail. Could be an infection in the nail bed? Is it sore if you press it?

PigletSanders · 09/09/2025 22:31

Ok, I’ve looked again and I’d query whether the pedicure has cuticle trimmed/scraped and caused an infection around the nail bed. You may need a course of flucloxacillin. Keep an eye on the redness tracking further up your foot.

You say the foot swelling is normal for you, but maybe ensure hydration and have a BP check just to be safe as it can indicate a few different things.

MissMoneyFairy · 10/09/2025 08:45

As its on both toes it could be a number of things, do you have any health issues or on medication . Hope the doctor can help.

whimsicallyprickly · 12/09/2025 19:21

Any news on the toe, @Serena1977?

IndigoBluey · 12/09/2025 23:30

All under your toes looks very swollen too. More so than the toe area. I’m wondering if it is gout or maybe beginning of arthritis. Could you have cut it recently as could be infection

Original poster
Serena1977 · 13/09/2025 00:15

@whimsicallyprickly thank you for asking.

Blood test was negative for gout. Have taken some doses of ibuprofen and it is much better. Swelling down, pain almost gone. Very strange, no idea what it was. Doc thinks it might have just be a bit of an arthritis flare up but can't be sure.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 13/09/2025 02:32

Get your hand inside your shoe and feel about for anything like a seam or a hole in the lining . Same with your socks but of course they might move about .
Your distal phalanx ( end bone in the toe) looks hyperextended (sticking up)
If you've ruled out gout and if there's no obvious sign of infection then eliminate trauma .

Could be a fracture but they don;t do anything much with them , let them heal , unless its the metatarsal joint that is damaged then you;ll get offloading / plaster maybe

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