Recommendations Your Podiatrist Might Make To Help You Deal With Toe Pain

Health & Medical Blog

Toe pain might be a passing problem due to wearing tight shoes or getting a cut, but when the pain lingers or comes and goes, it's time to see a podiatrist for help. You might have a medical condition, such as arthritis, a toe condition, such as a bunion, an injury, a nerve problem, or a number of other causes that need medical help. Here are some suggestions for dealing with toe pain. 

Rest And Ice

When you see a podiatrist for pain in your toe, they might advise you to stay off of your foot as much as possible and use an ice pack to help with the pain and swelling. Ice packs are common treatments for foot injuries and pain.

The cold temperatures of the ice pack can reduce inflammation that causes pain. In the case of a mild injury, rest, ice, and time might be all you need for recovery. Foot and toe injuries often take a long time to heal since your body's tissues need time to repair themselves. Be sure to follow your doctor's advice for when you can resume all of your normal activities so you don't injure yourself further.

Steroid Injection

Your podiatrist might have you take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to help your pain. If those don't work, they may consider a steroid injection into your painful toe joint. This treatment might help a flare of arthritis that you can't get relief from any other way. Steroid shots don't heal your painful toe, they just numb the pain, so your doctor will probably still look for ways to manage your pain permanently.

Orthotics Or Padding

If wearing shoes makes your toe pain worse, you might need to start wearing shoes with wider toes so your toes have more room. Your podiatrist might also recommend orthotics that support or pad the painful toe. Even small pads can protect corns and other sore spots that rub against your shoes when you walk. A splint that holds your toe in a straightened position might even be helpful, depending on the cause of your pain.

Surgery

A few types of surgery can be done on toes to help relieve pain. Your podiatrist may want you to try things like switching your shoe style and wearing orthotics first, but if toe pain interferes with your life, it might be time for surgical intervention.

Your podiatrist might do surgery on a toe joint. A fusion could straighten the joint where your toe leans. You might need surgery on tissues in your toe or on bones. You could have pins in your toes after the surgery and need a surgical recovery boot or crutches until you can start bearing weight on your foot again.

There are several ways to treat toe pain, and finding the right one begins by seeing a podiatrist so you can get a diagnosis for your problem. Once you know what's wrong, you and the podiatrist can take steps to manage your pain and bring about healing.  

Contact your podiatrist to learn more. 

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29 June 2022

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