My toe hurts. :( Any suggestions?

[Rajah]

I don't know why, it's not stubbed or anything, nor is it very red, but my big toe hurts almost like the nail is pointed and poking it, but the nail is not. But the toe is *very* sensitive right now. All I know to help it is dabbing it with hydrogen peroxide (which I've done) and/or soaking it in epsom salts (which we don't have). Any other suggestions? Can I soak in normal salty water instead of epsom salts? If it doesn't go down overnight, I'm going to be walking with a limp tomorrow.

 

[Michelle]

Sounds like an ingrown nail. Even thought it appears that the nail is not poking in, it may be. If it's still red and sore tomorrow you may want to see a doctor, my DD has had to go on antibiotics more than once for infected ingrown nails.

Good luck!

 

[Rajah]

That's what it feels and acts like, but I can't find *where*. If it is, it's well down on the side. :/

What's strange is this started out of *nowhere*. This afternoon, I was fine. This evening, ouch.

 

[Connieh]

Don't mean to alarm you, but it could possibly be gout.

If it is not better in the morning why don't you call your doctor.

Hope it feels better soon.

Connie

 

[shortbun]

I was thinking gout too. Start drinking water and avoid spicy
and fatty foods. No beer. (scotch is ok though-lol!)
I hope it's just a toenail! Have it checked out if it doesn't
become obvious what it is.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Sounds like gout to me too.

 

[candykisses]

If your toe is still red and painful, I'd see your doctor. Gout was the first thing that came to mind when I read your post.

 

[Rajah]

Well, I've been drinking lots of water lately (2-3 bottles) and if that's not enough, I'm just in trouble because I can't drink more.

But, luckily, it's mostly better this morning. Not 100%, but about 60%, 70%? I can walk on it this morning anyway, so that's good.

 

[RickinNYC]

Like many others, I agree and immediately thought of gout. I have been suffering from this malady for three years now and only recently started taking medication. I was pretty resistent to the idea of having to take a pill every day for the rest of my life but the pain was just too unbearable and I couldn't walk.

That being said, if you still can't definitely determine if it's in fact an infected or ingrown toe nail, see your doctor. If it's gout, it will recur over time and can very well get MUCH worse! Take if from me, you do NOT want that to happen!

 

[Rajah]

Will gout occur more on one side of a single toe than another, like an ingrown nail? That's what this was doing.

I think this was either ingrown nail or cutical (do toes *have* cuticals like fingers?), though -- more I focused on it, the more it felt like a dull needle-poke, and "treating it" as though it were a slightly ingrown nail seems to have fixed it. It's still sore today, but in the same way that a bruise or cut are still sore the next day but healing.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Gout is more the whole toe.

 

[Rajah]

Okay, this was mostly focused on the outside edge. It spread to the other side, but just barely. There was definitely a "center of origin" so to speak.

 

[RickinNYC]

Originally posted by Rajah
Okay, this was mostly focused on the outside edge. It spread to the other side, but just barely. There was definitely a "center of origin" so to speak.

Doesn't sound like gout now that you've given more details. Breath easy!

 

[fklhou]

Good luck Tammi. Hope that you feel better soon.