Sudden AGONY in toe - can't sleep, can't do anything

[ohhellmytoe]

About 7pm I started a workout and quickly I realised I couldn't put any pressure on my toe. Removed sock and shoe for any obvious signs and it looked like I might, maybe have an ingrown toe.

It's steadily got more and more painful and I'm now getting a bit worried.

I can't sleep because the bedsheet on my toe is agony. It's throbbing, my nail bed feels like it's on fire, and it feels like the pain is now spreading up into my foot.

I can't believe such a tiny area of the body is causing me so much discomfort - my hairs are literally standing on end with the pain.

Does this sound like an ingrown toenail? I'm in the 1am dark place where I'm convinced it's sepsis 🙈

Do you see redness around the nail bed? I would soak it in salt water until you can get some proper advice.

Could it be gout? My DP gets gout and what you describe sounds similar.

It could be an ingrown toenail or infection though.

My ingrown toenail was worse than labour!

You could see it though. Very clearly.

Yep - gout

Did you bang it?

When my dp has a gout attack (not for years now due to tablets) not even a bedsheet can touch his toe without causing yelping. It looks very slightly redder but basically invisible.

Sounds like gout. Could you google it? When my dad had a flare up in his knee, the treatment was five days of naproxen but the first day was a triple dose. Don't want to promote prescription drugs without medical diagnosis but maybe try some ibuprofen.

I suppose it could be ingrowing toenail but the severity is unusual I think.

Sounds horrid though. I hope it gets better soon.

Have you got some ibuprofen? Maybe try that, elevate it slightly and cold compress?

Willing to be told that is wrong mind

My first thought was gout too

Do you have any red lines spreading from it?

I would - Soak it in a bowl of water and normal salt/bath salts.

Then put sudocream on it.

Yes to shitloads of pain relief & elevating.

Could you maybe share a picture in case anyone sees telltale signs of anything? Poor you, it's a bit like toothache where it sounds like run of the mill pain but when you have it you realise it absolutely fucking canes!

Oh thank you for all your replies - wasn't expecting any in the dead of night!

Here's photos. Sorry about my awful feet. The one on the right is the culprit. Possibly looks slightly swollen but I'm not sure.

I've got it iced and raised and have taken some ibuprofen. I can't ice the top of it as it's too painful.

I'm going to Google gout.

If you cant bare the weight of ice on top of the toe, then stick it in a bucket of icy water. Ice is going to help the quickest with pain and inflamation, and if you have got an infection, it will slow it down

It does look swollen. It doesn't look like an ingrown, infected toenail. It's a little ingrown but not enough for that pain.

I had exactly that just over a year ago. Quickly established by my GP as gout.

Soak your foot in water with Epsom salts in it. If it is infection it will draw it out.

I was going to say gout too, heard it's fucking painful 😞

Hi, thought I would post because my ex had a similar thing a few months ago at the same time as my daughter had Covid. Have you heard about Covid toe? Thought he was messing around when he told me but google it. He wasn’t able to be tested because he had no other symptoms. Weird thing was his mum who he had been in contact with also got a bad toe just after exactly the same. Hope of course that it’s not and it’s something else. Take care

It sounds like gout to me.

Gout used to be referred to as a rich man's disease back in the olden days as only wealthy people could afford the red meat and wine that apparently brought on a gout flare up.

Definitely looks and sounds like gout to me. I had it once, years ago, so very painful! I couldn’t sleep in my bed (DH and duvet etc) - laid on sofa instead. Anti-inflammatory meds help.

Forgot to add that it also came on quite suddenly, but I haven’t had it since. And mine certainly not linked to red meat - I have been veggie for over 30 years!!

Agree it sounds like gout, my DP gets it occasionally and says it's the worst pain. Usually he completely refuses to go to the doctors for anything but gout has him hopping there as fast as possible