Foot pain

[MyOtherCarIsAPorsche]

When I think about how much this affects me it's quite depressing.

My joint below my big toe nail really hurts - has done for many years. It's resulted in me walking heavier on my other foot. This, in turn, is very wearing on footwear. It has also affected my knee and hip.

Last year I broke my 'good' big toe at the same joint. It's still very painful - slightly more so than my other (original) sore big toe joint.

I feel like I am only using my foot up to the 'ball' of my foot as I am trying to avoid bending my toes as I walk. I feel I am walking a little stiff legged and as a result both my knees and hips now feel sore when I've walked some distance.

I would love to be pain free when walking. It was a hobby I was looking forwards to taking up again now that I don't work full time.

Do you go to the GP for foot pain or do you pay a podiatrist?

I actually feel like I need some sort of physio therapy as I've been walking 'incorrectly' for so long that my whole body hurts from limping along all the time.

Is the GP the first point of call?

If you can afford a decent podiatrist I would try that, only because GP services are limited and a referral to specialist which seems possible is a long wait. A podiatrist should be able to identify the cause of the pain at least, and point you in the right direction.

You can self-refer to NHS podiatry near me but i'm not sure if that's standard across the country. There can be quite a wait but it might be worth it compared to the cost of paying yourself (typically £40-60 a session for podiatry / physio).

Thank you @emmathedilemma

Here you can self refer for physio but not podiatrist.

The cheapest one locally is £85 a session for undiagnosed foot pain.

I may book a session but was thinking that I would maybe get referred back to NHS.

I know that there was a problem with my broken toe healing - the bone was 'floating' and I suspect that it hasn't set correctly. It's still too painful to walk on.

Both feet are so sore - but it seems foot care is low priority NHS wise and expensive privately.