Does this sound like an ingrown toenail? Severe toe pain in joint.

[NorwichMom]

I have had severe big toe pain since March. I have been to the GP 3 x so far. And she doesn’t seem sure what it is. She said it might be an infection and prescribed antibiotics. They didn’t help. Then said it could be a fungal infection and prescribed ointment which hasn’t helped. I’ve had an x-ray which shows mild arthritis at the joint where the toe meets the foot but it doesn’t hurt here.

There is no redness or swelling. It doesn’t look like a fungal nail. Then last time she said maybe it’s an ingrown toe nail. It hurts so much i can’t look. She’s looked a bit while I tried not to scream but didn’t seem sure. I’m now painting some ingrown toe nail stuff on my nail, so far that’s not helped. I also soak my foot in salt water most nights.

the pain is on the top of my toe, mainly focused around the top of the joint nearest the nail. If I press lightly on top of the nail it hurts a bit. If I press at the side of the nail it doesn’t hurt. If I touch the top of my toe further back from the nail it can literally make me scream.

i have to brace myself to put a pair of trousers on as the pain of the material touching my toe is excruciating. Sleep is difficult as the weight of the duvet is awful. I can’t sleep on my stomach with the top of my toe touching the mattress either. I wore a long skirt the other day and open toe sandals, a lightweight silk skirt and I screamed when it brushed across the top of my toe.

GP has said twice now maybe it’s an ingrown toe nail but to me where the pain is doesn’t seem to fit. And I’ve told her this and she doesn’t seem to listen but also admits she’s a bit stumped. Can an ingrown toenail cause the main focus of the pain to be in the joint and not near the nail? It hurts if I scrunch my toes up.

when I first saw her back in March I said I thought it might be gout but she said there’s no redness or swelling.

I'd go to a podiatrist for foot advice. Just go as soon as you can.

This: i have to brace myself to put a pair of trousers on as the pain of the material touching my toe is excruciating. Sleep is difficult as the weight of the duvet is awful. I can’t sleep on my stomach with the top of my toe touching the mattress either. I wore a long skirt the other day and open toe sandals, a lightweight silk skirt and I screamed when it brushed across the top of my toe. sounds like gout - have you had a blood test for that?

Go to a podiatrist. I had similar pain at the outer side of the big toe. She cut the nail back and (warning: grim) removed a corn that had formed under the flesh alongside the nail and which was responsible for all the pain.

Five minutes of discomfort for utter pain-free bliss.

Im having a blood test for gout on Monday. I’ve been asking for one since March. You’d honestly think it comes out the GPs own wages! If that’s negative I think I’ll see a podiatrist.

Another vote for a podiatrist

Check out Onychophosis. I have it and I know how excruciating it can be. It is basically hard skin in the area between your toenail and your skin. A chiropodist can pull it out for you. The relief is immediate! You would think it would bleed, but it doesn't. I know only too well that feeling of not being able to lie on your side in bed for the pain. Good news is it is readily treatable but you will need to pay to see a chiropodist regularly. And you can never put shellac on your toe nails.

you are describing gout.

I think it sounds like textbook gout but with no visual signs. ChatGPT seems to think sometimes you don’t get visible gout signs? But also reckons it’s gone on too long now for gout???

Ah that’s the proper name for what mine did!

Thanks, not heard of this will google.

i have just searched for a podiatrist in my area……£350 if i need nail surgery! Wtf. I’m having to pay £1400 this week for a root canal even though I have an nhs dentist as my nhs dentist basically refused to do it.

I had to pay £150 for a steroid injection for a frozen shoulder as the waiting list was months and i literally couldn’t wipe my arse.

im sick of paying and paying and paying for stuff which i do really think should be on the nhs. Feel for people who can’t afford it. What do you do if you are on the bread line and can’t walk due to an ingrown toenail and the nhs just says sorry, no podiatry service locally?

Ouch! (Literally.) I paid £60 as a new patient.

Ok, I’ve googled the Onychophosis thing and it could be that. It did seem to start after I went for a short (4 mile walk) in some old boots which seem to have shrunk/or my feet have grown and they did seem slightly too small.

BUT the pain is more in the joint not the nail so not sure. I will go see a podiatrist though once gout has been ruled out.

maybe I need to shop around. £350 for an ingrown toenail seems crazy expensive.

I think it sounds like you could do with an inflammatory arthritis being ruled out. Mine started in my big toe joint, I couldn’t cope with the sheet on me. Some of them can be zero negative so don’t show in blood tests.

You can get an x-ray to look for arthritis too.

Funny you mention this. I have textbook ankylosing spondylitis symptoms. I got semi diagnosed as had an mri which showed AS in my spine and the radiologist write up said the changes indicated AS. Then some rheumatologist got hold of it, said there was no changes in my SI joints so I can’t have AS and they have rewritten the original mri report without telling me…..I can see both versions on the app. One says I have AS, the other says not. Rheumatologist also said in an appointment write up that I have no tendon issues and I made her redo that as I am plagued by ankle tendon problems and have had repeated surgery to repair torn tendons.

ive had an ANA (?) blood test which was negative

My big toe feels really stiff. Like i can’t bend it well.

I have ingrown toenails and it's visibly obvious that they are ingrown because the nail (left to itself) is covered by the skin on the side of my toe. When they start to hurt, I have to slide a nail file under them to dig them out and cut them, which I find quite satisfying to do.

I also think it sounds like gout. I’m diagnosed with gout and I never get redness or swelling, just pain.

Re the blood test, if you are in a flare that can lead uric acid levels to be artificially low, so you are best to wait until it is better before having a test

The good news is if it is gout it can be successfully medicated, I’ve not had a flare since I started uric acid lowering medication

A podiatrist doesn't necessarily need to do full on toe nail surgery to sort an ingrown nail. I've had them a few times and they've been sorted in one appointment with no surgery.

@StrictlyCoffee can a flare of pain last for 2 plus months?

I had an ingrown nail and the pain referred all up my calf. The toenail was barely visible. It was hard for me to walk I was having to walk on the side of my foot without realising and it might be maybe in your case the pain is referring into the joint. A nail brace cost me £250 at a podiatrist. It’s likely to cost you a lot less than those figures you quoted even if it isn’t an ingrown / not a full blown nail surgery. Good luck!

Look up Hallus Rigidus. It's a form of arthritis affecting the big toe. I think it's either that, gout, or ingrown nail. I had gout and honestly I wouldn't wish the pain of that on anyone. Gout can last for while if not treated, but prescription Colchisine works well to sort the pain. However I don't think gout lasts as long as your pain even if untreated.

What kind of a nail brace?

I’m sitting on the sofa and it’s just throbbing.

I’m wondering gout too owing to the pain etc. my partner has broken loads of bones etc but the pain like you said of even a sheet on it was off the charts. Can’t hurt to follow the gout friendly diet and urtic acid (I’m assuming- im not a medical professional)