Toe Pain

Causes of toe pain

A sore toe is often caused by exercising too much or wearing shoes that are too tight.

Do not try to diagnose the cause of your pain yourself.

Important

If you think you may have broken your toe, do not try to treat it yourself. Contact NHS 111 to find out what to do.

How to ease toe pain yourself

You may be able to treat the pain yourself if your toe is not broken.

Do

rest and raise your foot when you can
put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your toe for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours - this is not suitable if you have chilblains or Raynaud's
wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)
buddy strap a broken toe - put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between your sore toe and the next toe, and use tape to loosely strap it up (do not do this for a big toe or a badly broken toe)
try regular gentle stretching exercises

Don't

do not walk or stand for long periods
do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
do not put an ice pack on your toe if you have chilblains or Raynaud's

A pharmacist can help with toe pain

If you have toe pain, a pharmacist can advise you about:

the best painkiller to take
insoles and pads for your shoes
treatments for common skin and nail problems
whether you need to see a GP

Find a pharmacy

See exercise video safety information

The exercises in this series of videos are suitable for most people in good health with a reasonable level of fitness.

Unless stated otherwise, they are general exercises only and are not aimed at treating any specific cause of pain or condition. Video titles and descriptions can give more information on how difficult the exercises are and who they are for.

Get advice from a healthcare professional (such as a GP) before trying them if:

you are not sure if the exercises are suitable for your current level of fitness
you have a health problem, an injury, any symptoms, are feeling unwell, or you have had a recent health event such as a heart attack or operation
you have any other concerns about your health
you are pregnant or have recently given birth

Stop the exercise immediately if you feel any pain or become unwell. If you are concerned about any symptoms, or they do not go away, get help from 111 online or call 111 for advice.

See a GP if:

you think you might have broken a toe
pain in your toe is stopping you doing normal activities
the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
you have diabetes and foot pain - foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

Contact NHS 111 if:

you have badly hurt your big toe
you're in severe pain
you feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your foot
your toe is pointing at an odd angle
you heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of injury
you have difficulty moving your toes or you cannot walk
you have toe pain and feel hot, cold or shivery

These might be signs of a badly broken toe after an injury.

You can call 111 or get&t=/"">get help from 111 online.

Self-refer to a podiatrist

If you have toe pain, you might be able to refer yourself directly to a podiatrist without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

ask the reception staff at your GP surgery
check your GP surgery's website
contact your integrated care board (ICB) - find your local ICB
search online for NHS podiatrists near you

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

	This item was in brought to you association with NHS website. Follow the links above for more information and don't forget to check out OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health which features items on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. This week our topic is: L - Lung Cancer.
Photos: OutUK and LightFieldStudios.