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What Causes Sharp Pain In The Left Toe?
I keep getting a sharp stinging pain in my left big toe. It comes and goes. When it comes it is sudden and excruciating. It is always in the same place. I have had no injuries, insect bites or anything to explain the burning, stinging, needle shoved into my toe sensation.
Wed, 2 Nov 2016
Short answer: We need more details.
Long answer:
Hi there,
I understand your problem, it does seem to be quite a sharp and significant pain. It is possible that it is a nerve problem, but we need much more information. Right now with the information that you have given me, I can only broadly categorise it into two: whether the pain is originating from a local problem, which means that the problem is exactly where the pain is; or that the pain is originating from a problem that is further away from the pain.
Things that would suggest a more local problem (like any inflammation or infection, or bony problems) would be any changes in the surrounding skin colour or texture, feeling any swelling there, or pain and discomfort with pressure on the painful part.
Things that would suggest something further away (like a nerve or blood vessel problem) would be an unusual shape of the area of pain, no relation to movement or handling of the area of pain, or having other risk factors like diabetes or smoking and such.
Other factors that would be important is how long it has been, how long each episode lasts, how frequent it comes, what triggers it or makes it better, and whether it involves other areas, or it has happened before. Your age, whether you smoke, and other health problems especially things like diabetes is also important to determine the general status of your blood vessels and nerves.
Get back to us with further details, then we can proceed from there.
Regards,
Dr. Teh
Long answer:
Hi there,
I understand your problem, it does seem to be quite a sharp and significant pain. It is possible that it is a nerve problem, but we need much more information. Right now with the information that you have given me, I can only broadly categorise it into two: whether the pain is originating from a local problem, which means that the problem is exactly where the pain is; or that the pain is originating from a problem that is further away from the pain.
Things that would suggest a more local problem (like any inflammation or infection, or bony problems) would be any changes in the surrounding skin colour or texture, feeling any swelling there, or pain and discomfort with pressure on the painful part.
Things that would suggest something further away (like a nerve or blood vessel problem) would be an unusual shape of the area of pain, no relation to movement or handling of the area of pain, or having other risk factors like diabetes or smoking and such.
Other factors that would be important is how long it has been, how long each episode lasts, how frequent it comes, what triggers it or makes it better, and whether it involves other areas, or it has happened before. Your age, whether you smoke, and other health problems especially things like diabetes is also important to determine the general status of your blood vessels and nerves.
Get back to us with further details, then we can proceed from there.
Regards,
Dr. Teh
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