Toe pain
There are lots of causes of toe pain. You can usually ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.
How to ease toe pain yourself
If you see a GP about toe pain, they’ll usually suggest trying these things:
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
- 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
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
- if you need to see a GP
Non-urgent advice:See a GP if:
- 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
What we mean by severe pain
Severe pain:
- always there and so bad it’s hard to think or talk
- you cannot sleep
- it’s very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
Moderate pain:
- always there
- makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
- you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Mild pain:
- comes and goes
- is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities
Immediate action required:Go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E 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
These might be signs of a badly broken toe after an injury.
Causes of toe pain
A sore toe is often caused by exercising too much or wearing shoes that are too tight.
Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what’s causing your toe pain.
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Pain or swelling around the nail, nail curls into the toe | Ingrown toe nail |
| Hard bony lump near the big toe | Bunion |
| Pain, tingling and numbness when you’re cold or stressed, toes can change colour | Raynaud’s or chilblains |
| Pain, swelling, red or bruised toe, hurts to walk | Broken toe |
| Sudden pain, stiffness, red or hot swollen skin around the toe joint | Gout |
Information:Do not worry if you’re not sure what the problem is.
Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.
Page last reviewed: 4 March 2022
Next review due: 4 March 2025
