Toe joint pain can be experienced either at the base of the big toe, the point where it attaches to the foot or over the middle joint where the two bones of the toe meet each other. People of all ages may experience this pain because it can be caused by many things. The following is a list of known causes of pain in the toe joint followed by some of the symptoms and the treatments performed. If the pain you are experiencing is severe be sure to be examined by a doctor.

Usual Causes of Toe Joint Pain

• Rheumatic Arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Injury
• Fracture
• Ulcers
• Bunions
• Endocarditis
• Corns and Calluses
• Claw toes
• Hammer toe
• Mallet toes
• Bone spurs
• Wegener’s granulomatosis
• Complication of Uncontrolled diabetes
• Metatarsalgia
• Bursitis

Middle Toe Joint Pain

This condition is more popularly known as hammer toe. The problem encountered in hammer toe is the dislocation of the middle toe joint which then leads to curvature of the toe. This curvature can be either of the stubborn kind, or may be straightened on manually intervention. When it becomes obstinately stiff, slightest movement of the toe can elicit sharp pangs of pain and is extremely agonizing to the patient.

Causes of Middle Toe Joint Pain

• Wearing shoes that are too tight and pinch the toes.
• Using inappropriately high heels or footwear that is not at all suitable to your feet.
• Arthritis
• Bunions, corns or calluses

Symptoms of Hammer Toe or Middle Toe Joint Pain

• Pain over the middle toe joint which may be associated with cramps
• Curvature of the affected toe in the middle, which may be malleable or rigid
• Redness and swelling of affected toe
• Development of painful corns or calluses over the affected toe
• Formation of ulcers over affected toes, which may be further, infected leading to more severe complications.

Treatment of Middle Toe Joint Pain

• Special splints, crests, shields etc that assist in straightening the curvature
• Resting of the affected toe and avoidance of too much pressure over it
• Using comfortable shoes and footwear with lot of toe room
• If these palliative measures do not work doctors may resort to surgical intervention.
• Arthroplasty and Arthrodesis are 2 of the surgical interventions used.

What is Hallux Rigidus?

Hallux Rigidus is a painful stiffness of the base of the toe and is a very common cause of big toe joint pain. It can further pave the way for formation of another complication, which is formation of extra bone growth; commonly known as bone spurs. This particular condition can even lead to disability as walking or any movement of the affected toe can be equivalent to an extreme torture.

Treatment of Hallux Rigidus

• Palliative measures like use of orthotic devices, exercises, adopting comfortable footwear
• Medications like NSAIDs and corticosteroid injections to control pain and inflammation
• Surgery is tried as the last resort and the type of surgical intervention depends upon extent of damage of the joint.

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