Searched the database here and of podiatry/sports medicine websites and didn’t find anything useful. Reaching out to see if anyone else has a likely diagnosis. Would go to my family doctor, but the only doctor I’ve been able to find up here (Canada) has been less than attentive or effective wrt to sports-related issues (don’t know; stay off it; take advil; etc). Plus, I don’t have weeks/months to wait for a referral…
Have constant pain around the ball of my big toe, on both feet. Feels like a “ring” of pain around the outside edge and an ache between the big toe and second toe. Hurts when I stand and walk. Dull ache when I sit. Sharp, shooting, “crunchy” pain when I toe-off. No other symptoms in other areas of the foot and nothing that would typically be associated with plantar or neuroma (based on what I’ve read). Onset was quick (within a week) and happened at same time for both feet. Ice and ibuprofen don’t do much for it.
My first thought is Gout as well. Managed well it’s not an issue, otherwise it can be very painful. My dad has it and he’s very careful about what he eats and it stays in check.
Look into Gout, have you eaten Edamame beans?
OMG, I think you’re right! That would also explain the low grade fever I’ve been having at the same time. I thought that was just an overtraining symptom. And I have that big lumpy growth thing on my left big toe, but I’d always thought that it was inherited, as my mom and 3 sisters have it - but no one ever used the word “gout” to describe it. Likewise, I just had a blood and urine test, as well as a physical and my doctor didn’t mention anything too watch out for. Everything came out clear.
I see all the stuff about medical attention, etc., but nowhere does it say anything about whether you can train through this and whether diet/lifetsyle changes will be a “cure” - or if this type of thing is chronic and I now have to stay off this and live with it forever, being one of those cranky people complaining about their gout?
gout is possible, but bilateral podagra? what about metatarsalgia too?
r u female?
age?
(asking only to see if you wear high heals, tight forefoot, etc)
Male. Significantly overweight from 2 years of injury-induced sedentary lifestyle. And I’ve got that big, lumpy karbunkle thing on one foot that I’m seeing as an illustration on all the gout websites now…
will have a look at your other suggestions though…
gout is readily diagnosed–and you can avoid things in your diet to mitigate it if it turns out to be that.
pain with toe off makes me think of plantar plate strain or turf toe
You don’t have “gout” bilaterally. Joint issue itself. You mention a “bump”. Where? On top or the side. Either way, hallux valgus (bunion) or hallux rigidus can predispose to sesamoiditis which is a more likely diagnosis.
Good luck! A VERY easy thing to address at a specialist …
I also vote sesamoiditis…and many M.D.'s will never have heard of it. I know nothing about it except that it exists…and should be most tender on the plantar surface of the foot just before the 1st MTP joint (where great toe meets foot) - i.e. near the “ball of the great toe”.
Gout = arthritis - entire joint is warm/swollen, very tender, and hurts with any movement. Usually most tender directly laterally and least tender on the plantar surface. Rarely bilateral.
Re: the “lump” - bunion is what other family members described their problems as. It is a significant bump that projects outward from the ball of the left big toe. Thing is, it looks the same as the gout-associated growths illustrated in the orthopedic sources - which is why I’d made that assumption.
Re: the low grade fever - I’d also read that this usually accompanied the foot pain symptoms, as both were (supposedly) the onset of an attack ( or whatever the correct term is for it).
What was also helpful in your comments is that gout doesn’t set in bilaterally. These both happened simultaneously. Will look up sesamoiditis and thanks again!
is your big toe severely touching or overlapping the 2nd?
Likley if you have a true bunion it can’t be corrected without surgery, but I started to get one, and was able to tape my toe properly for a few weeks and straighten it out
google turf toe to see if it matches your pain–we treat it with stiff soled shoes (no toe off) and tape–but u really need to see someone who deals with athletic injuries
I too would google the “sesamoid bone”. I have broken both of mine and have constant pain. Some days its managable, others not so. it seems to happen more in people with high arches. There isn’t much you can do. Go to a podiatrist and thats about it. Good luck.
I agree…sesamoid bone. I’ve had both feet operated on twice for this problem. In football they refer to it as “turf toe”. Now you understand why guys who make millions of dollars skip games because “their toe hurts”. I can run without any issue but it would kill me to play a pick up game of basketball. The constant starting and stopping, quick turns, etc. is very painful. Good luck.
