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 🙈

What's your diet like? As others are saying, could be gout.

Gout isn't just about red meat and you can still get it if you are vegetarian.

Over-indulgence generally contributes to it - can also be things like too much alcohol, sugary drinks, seafood. Even some veggie things like kidney beans have quite a high content of purine (this causes gout).

It can also be linked to obesity more generally or genetics can make you more susceptible.

Gout

I had gout several years ago and it was unbelievably painful doc gave a prescription that resolved it in a day or two. It's to do with acid crystals in the joint. ordinary pain relief is not the answer.

Gout!
I had that in my twenties ... One toe only and I was the fittest healthiest I had ever been which blew the theories about Gout only being for beer drinking, meat guzzling older men!
15 years later and I havent had it again but that toe doesnt bend so well anymore.

Don't rule out gout even if vegetarian, my DP is. It is associated with rich living but some are just prone to it.

It sounds like classic gout to me. My husband, mum and brother all suffer. None of them are overweight, it can affect anyone.
Gout can come on really quickly, is exceptionally painful and my husband can’t bear the bed covers on his toe when it’s at it’s worst. It does subside fairly quickly though, it’s only usually really bad for a couple of days. Ibuprofen can help or naproxen if really bad. Unfortunately it is likely to reoccur but there is a medication you can take every day to prevent this.

Thanks all. Weirdly, this morning it feels fine. It's throbbing slightly at the side still but barely noticeable!

DS did accidentally bash my toe quite hard last night after it first started hurting so I wonder whether it just really aggravated it or something. I also covered it in tea tree oil before bed so perhaps if an infection is starting the tea tree was making it really painful.

I've had a look at gout. I'm a young healthy female who barely drinks so don't seem to fit any of the risk factors although there is a history of RA in my family so who knows. The pain was also in my whole toe and top of foot rather than just the toe joint.

Either way, am just relieved not to be in pain this morning - thanks for all your messages last night!

That's good to hear! Testing for gout is simple (maybe not in covid times!) so if it recurs ask your GP.