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Injury – People with a sprained or broken toe should follow the RICE procedure. This acronym stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Resting the foot in an elevated position and applying ice and compression can help reduce inflammation. Doctors may also prescribe analgesics to relieve pain.

What causes swelling in the toes?

Top Causes of Swollen Toes

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Read about Learn the cause and how to ease the pain. If your toes are swollen, it means that fluid has built up and is trapped there. Swollen toes can be caused by a trauma, like from something falling on your toe, or stubbing it. Swelling may also be caused by infections or from changes in the structure of your toes, such as when bunions develop.

But it can also be caused by an underlying health issue like gout or heart failure. Often, a swollen toe is easy to spot, because it’s bigger than your other toes. But if several toes are swollen, you may not notice it right away. You may have other symptoms like pain, shiny skin, joint pain, and itching.

If you had a minor trauma, swollen toes may get better with at-home treatment. But if the swelling doesn’t improve after a few days or you have other symptoms, see a doctor. Depending on the cause of the buildup of fluid in your toes, treatment may include antibiotics, pain medication, or medications to treat any underlying conditions.

• Pain in your foot
• Swelling of the toe
• Bruising of the toe

It can be easy to hurt your toes because the bones are fragile. Injuries can happen when something falls on your toe (crush injury) or from stubbing it. It may cause a contusion (bruise) or broken toes (fracture). If the pain is severe and your toe looks and discolored, you may need to see a doctor to make sure you haven’t broken it.

For most injuries, pain can usually be treated with over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). A doctor may recommend taping your injured toe to the toe next to it. This is known as buddy taping, which helps stabilize the injury. You may also want to wear solid, stable shoes that provide more support and lessen the chance of injuring the toe while it is healing.

In severe cases, surgery may be needed for the injury to heal properly.

• Foot pain
• Foot or toe swelling
• Skin may feel warm to the touch
• Fever

An infection of the skin of the feet and toes may be fungal or bacterial and may cause swollen toes. The skin may become warm to the touch. There may be discharge from the cuticle or from an open sore and you may notice a foul odor. The skin can become very sensitive and painful.

• A fungal infection of the foot is called, or athlete’s foot. It is caused by different types of fungi commonly found in damp places such as showers or locker room floors.
• A bacterial infection of the skin is called, It can develop after a break in the skin allows bacteria to enter the tissue. It is frequently caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus bacteria.

People with diabetes can be more susceptible to skin infections of the foot. This increased risk may be related to altered immune system function or nerve and blood supply changes associated with diabetes. Treatment of an infection involves keeping the skin clean and dry at all times.

A fungal infection is treated with antifungal medications, while a bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics. A bunion is a painful swelling or bump at the base of the big toe. A bunion develops over time. As the big toe bends toward the other toes, it causes the bump to push out farther. Wearing tight, narrow, and poor-fitting shoes increases the risk of getting a bunion.

Arthritis may make you more likely to develop bunions. Around 23% of American adults have bunions, and they are more common in older people and in women, according to a study in the. The goal of treatment is to slow or stop bunions from getting worse and to help ease any discomfort they cause.

Doctors often recommend a range of approaches including supportive shoes, bunion pads, shoe inserts, ice packs, and pain medications. Bunion pads cushion the bunion to prevent irritation from rubbing against the shoe. Placing shoe inserts in wide, flat shoes can help improve the mechanics of foot motion and decrease the amount of force on the big toe.

If your bunion causes severe pain that does not improve with these treatments or it significantly limits your activities, surgery may be suggested. The recovery time from bunion surgery can be lengthy, and you may need to continue wearing more supportive shoes even after surgery.

• Redness or swelling in the big toe
• Limited range of motion of your big toe
• Hard lumps underneath the skin around the joint of your toes

is a form of arthritis that causes sudden pain, stiffness, and swelling in a joint. It commonly affects the big toe. In gout, uric acid crystals build up in the joint. Uric acid is made when your body breaks down certain foods and drinks, including red meat and alcohol.

• Over time, flare-ups of gout can damage the cartilage and bone in your joints.
• Uric acid crystals can also be deposited in other parts of your body and cause problems such as kidney stones.
• Your doctor may diagnose gout by examining your foot.
• In cases that are less clear, the diagnosis may be confirmed by aspirating (taking fluid) from the joint.

There are several prescription medications that can treat gout and prevent flare-ups. Sometimes, steroid medications are injected into the toe to treat the pain.

• Pain, swelling, and stiffness in joints
• Warmth and redness in joints
• Deformity of joints

Several types of arthritis can cause toes to swell including,, and, Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis are both autoimmune diseases, which cause your body to attack healthy cells. Osteoarthritis is a more common type of arthritis related to the wear and tear of your joints over time.

Treatment focuses on controlling the symptoms and inflammation with over-the-counter and prescription anti-inflammatory medications. Steroids may also be prescribed to reduce inflammation. For rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, prescription biologic agents may be used to target the immune system. Depending on the severity of the disease, joint injections and occasionally joint replacement surgery may be needed.

Heart failure occurs when the function of your heart weakens. It may be related to poor blood flow to the heart, coronary artery disease, injury due to a heart attack, or uncontrolled high blood pressure. The weakening of your heart causes it to pump blood less effectively.

1. This can lead to fluid backing up and swelling in your legs and feet.
2. Fluid can also back up in your lungs, causing difficulty breathing.
3. With medications for the underlying causes, including blood pressure medications and diuretics (which help you get rid of excess fluid from your body).
4. Toe swelling without an injury “Frequently, the significance of problems with the toes and feet is minimized.

Pain and swelling in the toes can be indicative of larger issues involving other body systems such as your heart, lungs, immune system, and kidneys.”— A number of other conditions can cause swollen toes including:

• Venous insufficiency (problems with the valves in the veins of your legs)
• or DVT (a blood clot in the veins of your legs)
• Lymphedema (blockages of lymphatic fluid, involved in the function of your immune system, that can lead to swelling in the toes or leg). This is more common after removal of lymph nodes to treat cancer.
• Liver disease

Because swelling in your toes can be a sign of a more serious issue, it is important to monitor your symptoms and to see a doctor for new or ongoing swelling. Call your doctor if:

• Pain doesn’t go away or gets worse
• The toe becomes numb or turns pink
• You have more bodywide symptoms such as urinary changes or weight gain

How to reduce toe swelling “Keeping your toes clean and dry and wearing appropriate footwear can help prevent many of the most common causes of toe pain and swelling.” — You should go to the emergency department if you have any of these signs of a more serious problem.

• Excruciating pain
• Inability to move your toe
• Redness and warmth in the toe and foot, especially if moving up the leg
• High fever
• Other concerning symptoms such as difficulty breathing

How long does a swollen toe take to heal?

Each toe is made up of 2 or 3 small bones. These bones are small and fragile. They can break after you stub your toe or drop something heavy on it. Broken toes are a common injury. The fracture is most often treated without surgery and can be taken care of at home. Severe injuries include:

Breaks that cause the toe to be crookedBreaks that cause an open woundInjuries that involve the big toe

If you have a severe injury, you should seek medical help. Injuries that involve the big toe may need a cast or splint to heal. In rare cases, tiny pieces of bone can break off and keep the bone from healing properly. In this case, you may need surgery. Symptoms of a broken toe include:

PainSwellingBruising that can last up to 2 weeksStiffness

If your toe is crooked after the injury, the bone may be out of place and may need to be straightened in order to heal properly. This may be done either with or without surgery. Most broken toes will heal on their own with proper care at home. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for complete healing.

• Most pain and swelling will go away within a few days to a week.
• If something was dropped on the toe, the area under the toenail can bruise.
• This will go away in time with nail growth.
• If there is substantial blood under the nail, it may be removed to reduce pain and potentially prevent the loss of the nail.

For the first few days after your injury:

Rest. Stop doing any physical activity that causes pain, and keep your foot immobile whenever possible.For the first 24 hours, ice your toe for 20 minutes every hour you are awake, then 2 to 3 times a day. Do not apply ice directly to the skin.Keep your foot raised to help keep swelling down.Take pain medicine if necessary.

For pain, you can use ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).

If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or have had stomach ulcers or bleeding, talk with your health care provider.Do not give aspirin to children.

You may also take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) for pain relief. If you have liver disease, talk with your provider before using this medicine. Do not take more than the amount recommended on the medicine bottle or by your provider. Your provider may prescribe a stronger medicine if needed. To take care of your injury at home:

Buddy taping. Wrap tape around the injured toe and the toe next to it. This helps keep your toe stable. Place a small wad of cotton between your toes to prevent tissues from becoming too moist. Change the cotton daily.Footwear. It may be painful to wear a regular shoe. In this case, your doctor can provide a stiff-bottomed shoe. This will protect your toe and make room for swelling. Once swelling has gone down, wear a solid, stable shoe to protect your toe.

Slowly increase the amount of walking you do each day. You can return to normal activity once the swelling has gone down, and you can wear a stable and protective shoe. There may be some soreness and stiffness when you walk. This will go away once the muscles in your toe begin to stretch and strengthen.

Ice your toe after activity if there is any pain. More severe injuries that require casting, reduction, or surgery will take time to heal, possibly 6 to 8 weeks. Follow up with your provider 1 to 2 weeks after your injury. If the injury is severe, your provider may want to see you more than once. X-rays may be taken.

Call your provider if you have any of the following:

Sudden numbness or tinglingA sudden increase in pain or swellingAn open wound or bleedingFever or chillsHealing that is slower than expectedRed streaks on the toe or footToes that appear more crooked or bent

Fractured toe – self-care; Broken bone – toe – self-care; Fracture – toe – self-care; Fracture phalanx – toe Alkhamisi A. Toe fractures. In: Eiff MP, Hatch RL, Higgins MK, eds. Fracture Management for Primary Care and Emergency Medicine,4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 16.

Rose NGW, Green TJ. Ankle and foot. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice,10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 49. Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA.

Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What is the best medicine for a swollen toe?

Quick Relief for Big Toe Pain – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help relieve pain and reduce swelling in the big toe caused by arthritis, bunions, overuse, as well as minor injuries. Advil and Aleve are among the most common over-the-counter NSAIDs.

These are, however, used for quick short-term relief and are not designed for long-term use, as they come with side effects. Ice and heat therapy can also help soothe, The cold helps relieve inflammation, while heat helps boost circulation and bring oxygen and nutrients to the joints in the foot. A contrast bath, where you dip your feet in cold water, then in warm water, and then repeat the cycle for five minutes, can help with symptoms, as well.

Toe splints and bunion pads can help with pain from bunions. These are often used to provide a cushion to the big toe, keep it straight and separate it from the other toes, and reduce pain-causing friction. Stretching the big toe also provides relief. For a toe pull exercise, cross one leg over the other and gently pull the big toe towards you, holding the position for 15 seconds.

What does it mean if your toes are red and swollen?

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process, Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm? Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence? Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. A person’s toes can appear red due to cold weather, injury, infection, or other medical conditions, such as Raynaud’s disease. The redness usually goes away on its own, but some underlying causes need treatment. Share on Pinterest Chilblains may appear on the skin as a result of exposure to cold weather. Image credit: Sapp, 2019 Chilblains are red or purple marks that appear after the skin has been exposed to cold weather. They may feel itchy. Another name for these marks is perniosis,

1. Chilblains develop shortly after exposure to the cold, and they often become more visible if a person warms the skin quickly, for example, in front of a fire or heater.
2. The exact cause is unknown, but they may occur when small blood vessels are warmed faster than the larger vessels can handle.
3. This can cause blood to leak into the soft tissues.

They look like red or purple blotches and tend to appear on the toes, fingers, nose, cheeks, or ears. Chilblains can turn into blisters or ulcers over time, and these can be very painful. Chilblains are more common in children and young and middle-aged women.

poor circulationhormonal changesconnective tissue problemssome bone marrow disorders Raynaud’s disease

Raynaud’s disease, or Raynaud’s phenomenon, is a rare condition that affects the blood vessels in the fingers and toes. When someone with this condition is cold or stressed, their blood vessels can narrow. This keeps blood from reaching the surface of the skin in some areas of the body, and these areas may turn white or blue.

The skin tends to turn red and tingle as the blood returns. Experts do not know what causes Raynaud’s disease. It is more common in women and people over the age of 30. In severe cases, the loss of blood flow can lead to sores or death of the affected tissue, requiring amputation. People with Raynaud’s disease are also more likely to develop chilblains after being exposed to cold weather.

Share on Pinterest A person with low arches, flat feet, or loose joints may develop bunions. A bunion is a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and cushions the joint of the big toe. It develops when the bone that connects the toe to the foot turns outward.

This pushes the big toe inward, toward the other toes, and makes the joint jut out. Most shoes put pressure on bunions. Over time, the joint can swell and become red, stiff, and painful. Bunions tend to run in families because foot shape is hereditary. People with low arches, flat feet, or loose joints are more likely to develop them.

For those at risk, wearing narrow or high-heeled shoes can prompt the development of bunions or make them worse. They are more common in females and more symptomatic in people who spend a lot of time on their feet. Skin and nail infections can cause redness, swelling, and pain in the toes.

Bacteria or fungi are usually responsible for these infections. Nail infections, or paronychia, can cause a swollen bump to form around the nail, and this bump may leak pus, The term ” broken toe ” refers to a fracture — possibly a traumatic or stress fracture — in the bone of the toe. A traumatic fracture, also called an acute fracture, results from an impact or direct blow.

This injury can occur when a person drops something heavy on the area or severely stubs their toe, Signs of a traumatic fracture include:

a sound at the time of the injurypain at the point of impact that may last for a few hoursa crooked or abnormal appearance to the toeredness followed by bruising and swelling the next day

Stress fractures, or hairline fractures, do not usually cause bruising or redness. They are tiny breaks in the bone, and repetitive stress is usually the cause. They often affect athletes and people who have osteoporosis or foot abnormalities. When red toes require treatment, the best choice depends on the cause of the discoloration:

Should I massage a swollen toe?

– Massage can be great for swollen feet and can also promote relaxation. Massage (or have someone massage them for you!) your feet toward your heart with firm strokes and some pressure. This can help move the fluid out of the area and reduce swelling.

Is it good to massage a swollen toe?

Reflexology massage can help and also Kenkoh’s footwear – Massaging your swollen feet will help relax the muscles and improve circulation. It works by activating the lymphatic system, which is the one in charge of moving the excess fluid out of your feet, resulting in reduced swelling.

Should I compress a swollen toe?

How do I treat a stubbed toe? – Right after you stub your toe, try gently massaging the injured area. Doing so can relieve pain by increasing blood flow to your toe. You can take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain. To treat a stubbed toe, you should use the RICE method. RICE stands for:

Rest: Stay off your feet to allow your toe time to heal. Ice: Apply ice or a cold compress every 20 minutes to relieve pain and inflammation. Compression: Try wrapping your foot in an elastic bandage to decrease swelling. Elevation: Rest with your toe elevated above your heart. This position reduces swelling.

You may also try “buddy taping” to support your injured toe. Using athletic tape, hold your injured toe and the toe next to it together and wrap tape around them both. This technique helps your toe heal with the support of another toe. If you think you may have broken your toe, it’s important to see your provider for an evaluation before attempting to tape your toe.

Are swollen toes serious?

Bunions – Bunions do not always require treatment. However, if it is painful, a doctor may recommend trying glucocorticoid injections to alleviate pain and swelling. Other treatment and management options include :

taking OTC NSAIDsapplying icechanging shoeswearing orthotic devicesputting pads on the bumpavoiding activities that cause painundergoing surgery

Share on Pinterest If a person’s toe looks abnormal after an injury, they should speak to their doctor. People should see a doctor if they think they have an infection or a form of arthritis. These conditions require medication. Those who develop bunions should consult a podiatrist.

a popping or breaking sound in the bone at the time of the injurya crooked or abnormal-looking toe following the injuryswelling or bruising in the toe the day after the injury

A swollen toe can occur for many different reasons, including injuries, infections, and conditions such as arthritis. Some causes of a swollen toe require a visit to the doctor. In general, people should see a doctor if the swelling persists or is accompanied by pain or other worrying symptoms.

Can ibuprofen help a swollen toe?

Take an anti-inflammatory medication – How can you reduce inflammation in the feet? Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen can help relieve pain and reduce swelling, providing relief for a few hours at a time and making them an excellent foot inflammation treatment.

Why is my big toe swollen and painful?

What If I Have a Swollen Big Toe? – A, infection, or an underlying condition like arthritis. If you have a swollen big toe that doesn’t go away or is accompanied by pain and other worrisome symptoms, consider visiting us. There are several different causes of big toe pain, and some of the symptoms and treatments of each:

How do you know if a swollen toe is infected?

Your toe is red, swollen, and sore. Could it be infected? Toe infections are common – especially in people with diabetes or a weakened immune system, Knowing what caused your infection can help you figure out whether you can treat it yourself, or you need to call a doctor.

You cut the nail too short, or you cut the cuticle around the nail.You have an ingrown toenail (the side of your nail grows into the skin).You’ve picked up a fungus, which you can get if you walk barefoot in common areas like a gym shower or locker room.You have a callus – thickened skin caused by rubbing (for example, when your toe rubs against your shoe).You put your feet in water a lot (for example, if you swim a lot).

You’re more likely to get an infected toe if you have diabetes, Damage to your blood vessels from high blood sugar can make it harder for your body to fight off infections. And diabetic nerve damage can prevent you from feeling minor trauma that could lead to a toe infection.

RednessSoreness or painA pus-filled blister, or pus that drains from your toeCracked, thickened, yellow toenails (from a fungal infection )

Diabetes can prevent you from feeling that you might have an infection, so check your feet every day. Look for redness, swelling, pus, and other signs of infection. Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or a podiatrist (foot specialist) if you have diabetes and if the redness, swelling, and other symptoms don’t go away with home treatment. See your doctor right away if:

You have a fever or chillsYou notice red streaks on the skin leading away from the infected areaYour joints or muscles hurt

Your doctor will examine your toe. You might need tests to find out what type of bacteria or fungus caused the infection. Get regular checkups from your podiatrist if you have diabetes, so you can find infections and other problems early. See the doctor more often if you have any known foot problems, like an ingrown toenail.

If bacteria caused the infection, an antibiotic cream or pill can clear up the problem. Fungal infections are treated with antifungal pills or cream. You can buy antifungal medicines over the counter or with a prescription from your doctor. To treat an ingrown toenail, your doctor might lift the nail and place a piece of cotton or a splint underneath it.

This will help the nail grow away from your skin. If lifting doesn’t work, the doctor can remove part or all of the affected nail. Sometimes the infection can cause a pus-filled blister to form. Your doctor might have to drain the blister. You can also try these remedies at home:

Soak the toe for about 15 minutes in a bathtub or bucket filled with warm water and salt. Do this three to four times a day.Rub a medicated ointment on the toe and wrap it in a clean bandage.To treat an ingrown toenail, gently lift the corner of the nail. Place a small piece of cotton or waxed dental floss underneath to hold the nail away from your skin.

You’ll also want to protect your toe while it heals. To help it heal properly, wear loose, comfortable shoes that don’t rub. Keep your foot dry, and change your socks every day.

Why is my toe red and swollen but doesn’t hurt?

Wondering why your toes are red? You may have an underlying skin condition like a fungal infection, cellulitis, or an allergic reaction. Other causes of a red, inflamed toes include trauma from an injury to the foot or arthritis.

Can poor circulation cause swollen toes?

SYMPTOMS OF CIRCULATION PROBLEMS – Poor foot circulation is often a symptom of a more significant problem, but it first needs to be decided if circulation issues are what the patient is experiencing. Some indications of poor circulation are achy legs and feet, sometimes even when resting, cold and clammy feet, tingling, and the feeling of pins and needles in the lower legs and feet, as well as numbness and painful cramping which are all symptoms someone with a circulation problem may experience.

Do bananas help swollen feet?

Potassium rich foods: Potassium-rich foods such as Sweet potatoes, bananas, Salmon help to reduce the swelling in the feet.

What foods to avoid when you have swollen feet?

Reduce Swelling In Your Feet With Top Rated Podiatrist Near Rockville, MD – The Podiatry Centers treat all medical and surgical foot pain and ankle pain conditions. Licensed podiatrist, Dr. Paul Ross, near Rockville, MD, can help bring you foot pain and ankle pain relief.

Our Rockville area podiatry office offers the most effective and state-of-the-art, quality podiatry care services with a smile to patients in our local community, including: Rockville MD, Bethesda MD, Chevy Chase MD, Woodbridge VA, Annandale VA, Arlington VA, Alexandria VA, Burke VA, Gaithersburg MD, Potomac MD, Silver Spring MD, Rockville MD and Springfield VA.

Return to a swelling-free life and get back to the things you love! Comments are closed,

What disease causes swelling of toe joints?

Symptoms – The signs and symptoms of gout almost always occur suddenly, and often at night. They include:

Intense joint pain. Gout usually affects the big toe, but it can occur in any joint. Other commonly affected joints include the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers. The pain is likely to be most severe within the first four to 12 hours after it begins. Lingering discomfort. After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints. Inflammation and redness. The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, warm and red. Limited range of motion. As gout progresses, you may not be able to move your joints normally.

What autoimmune disease causes swollen toes?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes painful swelling in various joints of the body, including the toes and the other joints of the feet. There is no cure for RA, but treatments can help prevent and slow damage. RA can affect any joint in the body, but about 20% of people with the disease first notice symptoms in their toes, feet, and ankles.

RA is an autoimmune, inflammatory disease, and its symptoms result from the immune system overreacting to and mistakenly attacking parts of the body. When a person has RA, the overreactive immune system attacks tissues such as ligaments and bones. It can also damage blood vessels, nerves, and organs, including the lungs and heart.

By damaging bones and soft tissues, this chronic disease causes pain, swelling, and decreased range of motion in the joints. Although it can affect any of the joints in the body, it most often affects smaller joints, such as those of the feet. RA is a chronic disease, meaning that it is a long lasting condition with no cure.

It is the most common form of autoimmune arthritis, affecting more than 1.3 million people in the United States. This article discusses RA’s effects on the toes and feet, other common symptoms, and the available treatments and management strategies. RA causes an inflammatory reaction in the synovium, the lining that lubricates and protects the joints.

In healthy joints, the synovium facilitates movement. In an RA-affected joint, the lining swells, damaging the joint and the tissues that support it, such as ligaments. When the ligaments and other supporting tissues become damaged, this can cause joint deformities.

Hammer toe : This deformity of the second, third, or fourth toe causes the toe to bend at the middle joint. Claw toe: In those with this condition, the toes bend into a claw-like position. Bursitis: Bursitis is the term for the inflammation of the fluid filled sacs of the joints. Bunions: A bunion is a painful, bony lump or bump on the big toe that occurs when the bones move out of place. Corns: These hard, thickened areas of skin can build up on the toes and may be painful to the touch.

Each of these conditions is fairly common, but a person with RA may have several of them. Having multiple conditions that affect the foot compounds discomfort and can make it very uncomfortable to wear shoes or bear weight. Aside from the foot conditions above, a person with RA may notice other symptoms that include:

aching pain in more than one jointlong lasting morning stiffnessjoint swelling

A person with RA will experience the same symptoms in the joints on both sides of their body. Therefore, anyone with RA who experiences foot-related symptoms will experience the symptoms in both feet. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, RA will affect the same joints in each foot. RA can also cause systemic symptoms, including:

fatigue unintentional weight loss fever weakness

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with RA typically experience flares, during which the symptoms worsen, and periods of remission, when the symptoms lessen. The signs and symptoms of RA can mimic the symptoms of other conditions, making the disease difficult to diagnose.

calluses, corns, and other skin conditionsdeformities such as hammer toe and claw toebunionstenderness to touchloss of flexibility in the joints

They may also order imaging tests, such as X-rays, and blood tests. A person with any joint pain and stiffness should consult a doctor soon after the symptoms begin so that they can receive a diagnosis and start on treatment if necessary. There is no cure for RA, so treatments center around controlling the symptoms and alleviating joint pain and swelling.

Finding the right treatment can often take a bit of trial and error. There is no single treatment that works for all people with RA. The severity of a person’s condition will determine what treatments the doctor recommends. When RA affects the toes, the suggested treatments may include lifestyle adjustments, medication, and surgery.

Making appropriate lifestyle adjustments is often one of the first steps toward managing pain and other RA symptoms. Options that may provide relief include:

resting the affected joints by taking a break from activities that place stress on the toes and feetwrapping ice packs in material and applying them to swollen or tender areasusing braceswearing orthotics, which are inserts in the shoes

Doctors often begin treating a person medically with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), DMARDs such as methotrexate can help lessen symptoms and slow damage to the joints. A doctor will often prescribe either nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or oral or injectable corticosteroids in conjunction with DMARDs.

If a person has more advanced RA, a doctor may prescribe biologics — a type of medication that can block immune system inflammatory signals that cause swelling and joint damage — along with methotrexate. Depending on the severity of symptoms in a person’s toes, a doctor may recommend surgery. Fusion is the most common procedure for a person with symptoms of RA that affect the toes and feet.

A surgeon will take the two bones that come together at a joint and fuse them, making one bone. In mild cases, a doctor may recommend a joint sparing procedure. However, if RA has severely affected the joints and damaged toes other than the big toe, a person may need more complicated procedures.

1. These may involve reshaping the foot and removing a portion of the bone from the base of the toes.
2. Anyone with any symptoms of RA should see a doctor within 6 months of the onset of symptoms.
3. Early diagnosis and treatment can slow the progression of RA.
4. Once a person has received a diagnosis of RA, they should see a doctor regularly to monitor their condition.

Aside from regular checkups, a person with RA should also speak with a doctor if they have any new or worsening symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that damages the joints in a person’s body. It often affects the small joints in the feet, including the toe joints, initially.

Does swollen toe go away?

When should I see my healthcare provider about a stubbed toe? – After stubbing your toe, see your provider if you have:

Changes in skin color, including severe bruising or redness, or if skin in the area looks unusually pale. Difficulty walking on it or putting weight on your toe or foot. Numbness or weakness in your toe or foot (this might mean you’ve injured the nerves). Pain or swelling that’s severe or doesn’t go away after a few hours. Signs of infection in your nailbed, such as redness, pus, itching, bleeding or swelling. See your provider if your nail becomes thick, discolored or falls off. If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system and you injured your nail while stubbing your toe, talk to your provider. People with these conditions are more likely to get infections in their toes and feet.

See your provider immediately if your toe looks deformed, crooked or bent at an unnatural angle. If you can see the bone after stubbing your toe, get medical help right away. A note from Cleveland Clinic A stubbed toe can range from an annoying event to a serious injury.

1. Pain and swelling from most stubbed toes usually gets better in a few minutes or hours.
2. But it can take longer for your toe to heal if you hit it especially hard.
3. If pain or swelling lingers for a day or more, see your provider.
4. They will evaluate your toe and foot for signs of a broken bone or soft tissue injury.

To avoid a nail infection, keep the area clean and see your provider if you have bleeding or discoloration. Wear shoes and use a night light to prevent another stubbed toe.