A stiff or painful big toe joint
The joint at the base of the big toe (the first metatarsophalangeal joint, MTPJ) can become painful, stiff or both. There is sometimes a history of a bad stubbing or crushing injury, perhaps long ago but more often there is no obvious reason. The commonest cause is a wear-and-tear osteoarthritis, which in this location is known as hallux limitus or hallux rigidus, depending how stiff it is. It is often accompanied by bony lumps around the joint which can be confused with a bunion. Pain in the joint can also be caused by cartilage separating from the bone surface (osteochondritis dissecans). When this happens after a stubbing injury the American term "turf toe" is sometimes used.
If the pain is under the ball of the big toe rather than in the joint itself, the problem might be due to inflammation, osteoarthritis or injury of the two kidney-bean sized sesamoid ("floating") bones which form the ball of the big toe (sesamoiditis). Occasinally, irritation of the nerves under the ball of the big toe (digital neuritis) can produce a similar pain. Episodes of very severe pain with swelling and redness around the base of the big toe is a classical picture of gout. Repeated attacks can damage the joint leading to osteoarthritis.