I have painful toes

Toes can become painful for lots of reasons, with badly fitting shoes the leading cause. However, some toes become painful because they change shape and rub on shoes, whatever is worn. Toe clawing describes an excessively curled shape. Shoes that are too short can cause this by forcing the longest toes into a curled-up position all day.

The toes might be clawed due to an underlying condition, especially when the foot nerves are affected. Painfully clawed toes tend to have a sore corn on the top that rubs on the roof of the shoe and sometimes at the tip of the toe below the nail. This is caused by pressing down hard against the ground.

There may also be pain with callosities under the ball of the foot where the bones press on the ground. Inflammatory arthritis (as opposed to “wear-and-tear”) such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause toe clawing. These conditions can cause a sore, swollen toe without any overall change in shape (dactylitis). If there is nothing to see in the foot but the pain tends to go into the toes, there might be a Morton's neuroma. This pain has a tingling quality and is much worse when wearing constrictive shoes. Most people with Morton's neuroma pain love to kick off their footwear at the end of the day while those with sore bones or joints prefer the support of a shoe.

 

The following list is a summary of some symptoms you may have. For full assessment and treatment of your particular problems, please contact us.

I have...

• suffered a sporting injury.

• a painful bump on the side of my big toe.

• pain and/or a lump in my heel.

• an ankle injury that's not improving.

• a weak ankle.

• ankle pain and/or stiffness.

• flat arches or a collapsed foot.

• painful toes.

• pain in the ball of my foot.

• an in-growing toenail.

• a stiff or painful big toe joint.

• pain and/or stiffness in the midfoot.

• clawed or curly toes.

• pain in my forefoot.

• pains in my shin.

• a lump on my foot.