Before someone says: go see a doctor! I am. In a week. Meanwhile I’d like to know what I’m dealing with.
Big toe, or actually just behind the big toe, the toe joint, is tender and it hurts a little when weight is placed on that area. The skin there is red. Doesn’t look swollen. No loss of toe mobility. Doesn’t really hurt when I wiggle the toe. Can’t provoke it when massaging or squeezing with fingers either. It only hurts when I put weight on that foot. Hurts to walk, and hurts more to stand on one leg. It feels better when walking if I make a toe fist (is toe fist a thing???) If I put weight on the heel while walking then again it doesn’t hurt.
Google says arthritis or gout. No prior history of either.
Background (or: why it’s not likely to be a stress fracture.) Long bike, long easy run, and a swim this past weekend. All good. Monday bike intervals and tempo run. Good. Tuesday just easy bike. Good. Rolled this same foot on a frozen water bottle Tuesday evening because of PF last year. Didn’t feel anything go wrong. Besides I’ve been doing this several times a week for months now. Good after that. Went to bed good. Woke up Wednesday morning good. Went to work good. Sat down. Got up a few times walked around the office good. Got up just before lunch and discovered this pain. Just like that got injured from sitting in a chair!!! I thought the ball of foot was hurting but it was more on the side and on top of the foot, not on the bottom. Then realized it is probably the big toe joint. Been 2 full days now and still hurts.
What’s changed lately. I started new probiotics recently. That could trigger auto immune issues. Also I don’t eat meat. Haven’t had any in ages. Well I was starving on Monday and there was nothing else but chicken so had some chicken. That could point to gout if my system isn’t used to filtering uric acid.
Any thoughts? I can’t run and it is killing me. First race is in 9 weeks!
Before someone says: go see a doctor! I am. In a week. Meanwhile I’d like to know what I’m dealing with.
Big toe, or actually just behind the big toe, the toe joint, is tender and it hurts a little when weight is placed on that area. The skin there is red. Doesn’t look swollen. No loss of toe mobility. Doesn’t really hurt when I wiggle the toe. Can’t provoke it when massaging or squeezing with fingers either. It only hurts when I put weight on that foot. Hurts to walk, and hurts more to stand on one leg. It feels better when walking if I make a toe fist (is toe fist a thing???) If I put weight on the heel while walking then again it doesn’t hurt.
Google says arthritis or gout. No prior history of either.
Background (or: why it’s not likely to be a stress fracture.) Long bike, long easy run, and a swim this past weekend. All good. Monday bike intervals and tempo run. Good. Tuesday just easy bike. Good. Rolled this same foot on a frozen water bottle Tuesday evening because of PF last year. Didn’t feel anything go wrong. Besides I’ve been doing this several times a week for months now. Good after that. Went to bed good. Woke up Wednesday morning good. Went to work good. Sat down. Got up a few times walked around the office good. Got up just before lunch and discovered this pain. Just like that got injured from sitting in a chair!!! I thought the ball of foot was hurting but it was more on the side and on top of the foot, not on the bottom. Then realized it is probably the big toe joint. Been 2 full days now and still hurts.
What’s changed lately. I started new probiotics recently. That could trigger auto immune issues. Also I don’t eat meat. Haven’t had any in ages. Well I was starving on Monday and there was nothing else but chicken so had some chicken. That could point to gout if my system isn’t used to filtering uric acid.
Any thoughts? I can’t run and it is killing me. First race is in 9 weeks!
i had a similar prob last year. One doc thought it was gout. Turns out it is AI related. I take sulfasalazine for it and now no pain in 4th metatarsal.
Just a nice add-on for every foot without an open wound beside the right med treatment with anoints ore other anti-inflammatories … a warm foot bath with curd soap …
Could be gout or could be metatarsalgia. Also could be a bit of arthritis. Some alleve three times a day for a few days wouldn’t hurt while you wait to see the doctor. Unless you have some reason you cannot do that. Podiatrist could be a just as good an option to see as the doctor. I’m a family doctor.
Before someone says: go see a doctor! I am. In a week. Meanwhile I’d like to know what I’m dealing with.
Big toe, or actually just behind the big toe, the toe joint, is tender and it hurts a little when weight is placed on that area. The skin there is red. Doesn’t look swollen. No loss of toe mobility. Doesn’t really hurt when I wiggle the toe. Can’t provoke it when massaging or squeezing with fingers either. It only hurts when I put weight on that foot. Hurts to walk, and hurts more to stand on one leg. It feels better when walking if I make a toe fist (is toe fist a thing???) If I put weight on the heel while walking then again it doesn’t hurt.
Google says arthritis or gout. No prior history of either.
Background (or: why it’s not likely to be a stress fracture.) Long bike, long easy run, and a swim this past weekend. All good. Monday bike intervals and tempo run. Good. Tuesday just easy bike. Good. Rolled this same foot on a frozen water bottle Tuesday evening because of PF last year. Didn’t feel anything go wrong. Besides I’ve been doing this several times a week for months now. Good after that. Went to bed good. Woke up Wednesday morning good. Went to work good. Sat down. Got up a few times walked around the office good. Got up just before lunch and discovered this pain. Just like that got injured from sitting in a chair!!! I thought the ball of foot was hurting but it was more on the side and on top of the foot, not on the bottom. Then realized it is probably the big toe joint. Been 2 full days now and still hurts.
What’s changed lately. I started new probiotics recently. That could trigger auto immune issues. Also I don’t eat meat. Haven’t had any in ages. Well I was starving on Monday and there was nothing else but chicken so had some chicken. That could point to gout if my system isn’t used to filtering uric acid.
Any thoughts? I can’t run and it is killing me. First race is in 9 weeks!
I’ve had gout in my big toe (1st MTP joint) that came on 1 week after a hot race (probably dehydration) a few years ago and again last year a few days after IMMT (not sure why but maybe dehydration again). The first time it happened the pain was so bad it made me want to throw up before I realized what was going on. I took some ibuprofen and it settled down completely in a day or so. Now I make sure I take some vitamin C whenever I feel there is an increased risk. Not sure if it will help but I hope so!
I had a similar-sounding pain in the joint behind my big toe a year ago. My diagnosis was arthritis and the podiatrist recommended a cortisone injection. I elected to try non-invasive methods first, so we immobilized the joint for a couple weeks plus physical therapy. Both helped alleviate the pain and restore mobility, so the pain is “manageable” now, but the toe still bothers me. I should have just gone with the cortisone shot.
If it is gout, then you are not alone. I’ve had gout for close to 2 decades now, and it has always been a challenge specially when I am training for races, which is pretty much all year round. I know I should be more vigilant in keeping my protein intake lower and increase fruits and veggies, however it is definitely easier said than done.
My flare-ups almost always happen after every big race I do. I’ve ever only noticed it after 70.3s and IMs and not in the shorter disciplines. Maybe it has something to do about being dehydrated can cause flare-ups, so does bad diet, stress, alcohol, or even joint trauma. Funny the first thing I check after I wake up in the morning are my feet, and are there any signs of a flare-up. If none, then I head out for a run. Otherwise, I may do a swim session instead, and if it is really bad, I will skip it altogether.
When flare-ups do happen, just have lots of fluids and stay away from meat - which you are already used to. I have managed to get it under control these past years by medications from my doctor. I also take really potent supplementation, most specially in the heaviest block of training in my calendar.
IO second the prospect of metatarsalgia. I had my first flare up of it this last week after Oceanside. I think I wasn’t quite ready for a hard 70.3 after a hard LA Marathon few weeks prior.
Do you remember what you were doing with that foot while you were sitting at work? Did you do any squatting, or any other movement that would cause the toe to extend beyond normal (bend upwards too much, or “hyperextend”)?
Arthritis in the joint of the big toe is apparently common (or so my foot surgeon friends of mine told me). Hyperextending the toe may cause a bone spur to jam against the metatarsal bone causing a flare up of pain/inflammation. Things that usually exacerbate this is hyperextending the toe, wearing shoes with upturned toes, or that are soft so that the ball of the foot “sink” into the shoe and the toes point up, or walking on soft surfaces like thick carpeting or sand. Immobilizing the joint until the pain is better may help (wear stiff soled shoes with hard insoles and avoid walking barefoot or be careful not to bend the toe too much).
Or it could be gout.
You better go see a doctor, the internet is not a good place to get a diagnosis.
I’ve had gout in my big toe (1st MTP joint) that came on 1 week after a hot race (probably dehydration) a few years ago and again last year a few days after IMMT (not sure why but maybe dehydration again). The first time it happened the pain was so bad it made me want to throw up before I realized what was going on. I took some ibuprofen and it settled down completely in a day or so. Now I make sure I take some vitamin C whenever I feel there is an increased risk. Not sure if it will help but I hope so!
How long did your Gout flare up last? Saw Doc a week ago and he things it is gout but did not draw fluid to test it. Swelling is gone and a lot of the pain is gone but it is still there and sore. Moving the joint makes it hurt more than just standing. It has been 18 days since the pain first started. Could that still be gout?
Thanks all. This became a moot point yesterday. Developed sore throat and sniffles, then today graduated to full blown cold or fly symptoms. Can’t train anyway. Oy.
The toe is much better. There’s still a little soreness but I can walk normal and there is no pain. I’d still not attempt running though, for a few more days, even if I weren’t sick.
I have had a recurring case of turf toe for a couple of years now. All started from wearing POS under armour shoes required by my college baseball team. The only thing that helped make it hurt less during a flare was the “toe fist” when walking.
I’ve had gout in my big toe (1st MTP joint) that came on 1 week after a hot race (probably dehydration) a few years ago and again last year a few days after IMMT (not sure why but maybe dehydration again). The first time it happened the pain was so bad it made me want to throw up before I realized what was going on. I took some ibuprofen and it settled down completely in a day or so. Now I make sure I take some vitamin C whenever I feel there is an increased risk. Not sure if it will help but I hope so!
How long did your Gout flare up last? Saw Doc a week ago and he things it is gout but did not draw fluid to test it. Swelling is gone and a lot of the pain is gone but it is still there and sore. Moving the joint makes it hurt more than just standing. It has been 18 days since the pain first started. Could that still be gout?
OK - not gout, day 21 of pain.
Dr. thinking sesamoditis given the locality of the pain. Ordered MRI to be sure. Gave me a few possibilities of diagnosis and treatments ranging from a fractured the sesamoid bone and it will heal with time in a boot all the way to the bone is dead (no blood floor) and requires surgery to remove it and all that comes with that.
Anyone dealt with a sesamoid issue before?
Thanks, John
Dr. thinking sesamoditis given the locality of the pain. Ordered MRI to be sure. Gave me a few possibilities of diagnosis and treatments ranging from a fractured the sesamoid bone and it will heal with time in a boot all the way to the bone is dead (no blood floor) and requires surgery to remove it and all that comes with that.
Anyone dealt with a sesamoid issue before?
Not with my toe but with my foot. I think I’m about 10 weeks in. Woke up early in the AM to leave on family vacation and when I put my sneaker on my foot hurt. By noon I was limping and by dinner swollen, couldn’t bear weight. I’ve been to ER, my doc, orthopedic and a rheumatologists. I thought it was another stress fx at first. ER and my doc thought gout. Orthopedic thought maybe stress but when MRI didn’t show said arthritis. Rheumatologists is making guesses now. Wants more blood and a bone density scan.
I have not heard sesamoid before but I will be google doctoring that one tonight.
Dr. thinking sesamoditis given the locality of the pain. Ordered MRI to be sure. Gave me a few possibilities of diagnosis and treatments ranging from a fractured the sesamoid bone and it will heal with time in a boot all the way to the bone is dead (no blood floor) and requires surgery to remove it and all that comes with that.
Anyone dealt with a sesamoid issue before?
Not with my toe but with my foot. I think I’m about 10 weeks in. Woke up early in the AM to leave on family vacation and when I put my sneaker on my foot hurt. By noon I was limping and by dinner swollen, couldn’t bear weight. I’ve been to ER, my doc, orthopedic and a rheumatologists. I thought it was another stress fx at first. ER and my doc thought gout. Orthopedic thought maybe stress but when MRI didn’t show said arthritis. Rheumatologists is making guesses now. Wants more blood and a bone density scan.
I have not heard sesamoid before but I will be google doctoring that one tonight.
Oy.