Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for several weeks or months and recurring throughout the lifetime of an individual.
Foot pain is a common problem that can have many causes, including issues with bones, nerves, tendons, ligaments, toenail beds, and other.
Toe pain can occur as a result of injuries sustained to the toe and other tissues. Arthritis is a common health issue that can result in chronic toe pain.
Pain in the ball of the foot can be caused by a condition known as sesamoiditis. This condition occurs when tendons of the big toe are inflamed from injury. The best treatment includes rest, ice, wearing low-heeled shoes, wearing a footpad and comfortable shoes.
Toe pain can be caused by the presence of gout.Gout is a condition that is inflammatory, causing crystals to periodically deposit in joints, leading to severe swelling and pain.
Gout most often affects the big toe. This is a chronic and progressive disease, caused by the elevated blood uric acid levels.
Gout can be managed, but is increased by obesity, alcohol, high blood pressure, high fructose corn syrup, medications and kidney function that is abnormal.
Gout is chronic, and can be made worse by injury, fever, heavy eating and alcohol consumption, and dehydration.
There are a few recommended treatments for gout, including: medication, pain relievers, rest, and diet restrictions.
Medications can include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, prednisone or colchicine. Gout is identified by testing for the presence of crystals in joints and tissues.
Arthritis is another chronic condition that can lead to pain in the toes, specifically in the toe joints.
Arthritis comes in many forms, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and other forms.
Osteoarthritis is caused by aging, and can result in joint pain in the feet and toes. This pain is chronic and may intensify over time as joints and membranes continue to deteriorate.
There is no cure for this arthritis, although certain practices and medication can improve pain and can increase the quality of life of arthritic persons.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory issue that affects the small joints in the feet, toes, and hands.
This type of arthritis causes pain and swelling that can result in joint deformities or erosion of bone mass.
This is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system begins to attack the body’s tissues.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include: tender, warm and swollen joints, stiffness, fatigue and fever, and others.
Rheumatoid arthritis typically attacks smaller joints first, including fingers and toes, before progressing to the hands and feet, and other areas.
Psoriatic arthritis is a condition of inflammation in the joints of those who have the skin condition psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a skin condition where people develop red patches of skin covered in silvery scales.
Most people are first diagnosed with psoriasis and then develop psoriatic arthritis. The main symptoms are stiffness, joint pain, and swelling.
These can occur in any part of the body including fingers, toes, and even the spine. The symptoms range from mild to severe, and they may come and go but may never completely clear.
There is currently no cure for psoriatic arthritis, but managing psoriasis outbreaks will help to prevent damage to joints.
Another cause of pain on the toes in bunions, which is bony matter that protrudes along the side edge of the foot, parallel to the base of the big toe joint.
Bunions are caused by poor fitting footwear, and are most often found on women, but can occur on anyone.
The treatment for bunions includes wearing more comfortable shoes with more support or cushion, or wearing orthotic shoes. Surgery is a less common remedy for bunions.
Hammer toe is a condition in which the toe is bent near the joint, resulting in a hammer-like look.
The main cause of hammer toe is wearing tight shoes. Hammer toes can cause pain, but switching shoes can often relieve the pain before it becomes chronic.
Claw toe is a condition that occurs when the joint located at the end of the toe can no longer straighten out completely.
This can cause the toe to permanently point up or down. Special footwear can be designed to accommodate the toe, as regular shoes and footwear may cause additional problems or irritation.
Stretching exercises are also recommended for toe joints. Shoe inserts or orthotics can be worn to supplement footwear. In some cases surgery may be necessary.
Chronic toe pain is caused by a variety of conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and others.
Other toe pain begins as temporary, but can lead to chronic pain if not treated.
