Major toe pain!!!

[MyNinja]

Go ahead and laugh it up !

I don't know how it started, but a couple of days ago I got this really bad throbbing pain on my great toe. It swells and is hot to the touch and it really hurts!! It feels like someone dropped a bowling ball on it.

The weird part about it is that it just came out of the blue and it only seems to hurt really bad when I lay down. I noticed the pain stops when I take my sock off and keep my foot below heart level. The cool air is soothing also.

I didn't get bitten by any bugs and I didn't hurt my toe, so I'm wondering what it could be....any thougths??

[HealingHandsWarmHeart]

in-grown toenail maybe?

is the nail in the corner of your toe digging into your skin?

[PocoDiablo]

I know what it is - time to visit a doctor! None of us are medical doctors, and even if we were no one can diagnose this over the internet! Go to a doctor, it could be serious!

[shes2smart]

The swelling/throbbing/heat would indicate some sort of infection.

Some of the other things you describe also had me thinkin' ingrown toenail. A common and easily treatable condition...but you're gonna need to see a doc to get it fixed and get that infection treated....I'd recommend a podiatrist (foot specialist), but your regular doc might be able to take care of it, too.

[Christopher11]

The swelling/throbbing/heat would indicate some sort of infection.

Some of the other things you describe also had me thinkin' ingrown toenail. A common and easily treatable condition...but you're gonna need to see a doc to get it fixed and get that infection treated....I'd recommend a podiatrist (foot specialist), but your regular doc might be able to take care of it, too.

I definitely agree that symptoms indicate infection. Lots of times, this can be due to the gunk that collects just under the top of the toenail, on the side.

It hurts when you stub your toe!!!

I agree that your regular doc could take care of it. If it was me, I would soak my toe in something like epsom salts mixed with peroxide. Or any disinfectant you like. The important thing is to soak it for a while. Then I would clean out the toenail carefully (it will hurt at first).

Then soak it again. Do this everyday, I wouldn't be surprised if it goes away. Good luck! Try not to stub your toe...

[MyNinja]

thanx! I never thought of it being an ingrown toenail....ouch!!

[BetterKarma]

Are you still experiencing pain? or did it stop by itself?

[MyNinja]

it doesn't hurt at this very moment, but I fear it will start up once i lay down like it has done for the past several nights

[BetterKarma]

Hmm...for a moment I thought it might be Gout but your symptoms are inconsistant. Can you walk on your toe without any pain?

[sddeaston]

Gout was definitely what I was thinking. I get it and it is an IMMENSE amount of pain. The pain doesn't go away unless you have some very strong pain relievers.

There is nothing you can do when you have gout to relieve the pain, though, it is just constant and it feels like your foot (or whatever joint it is in) is going to explode.

But, like the above poster, your symptoms are inconsistent with gout.