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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

pain in great toe joint

by Ann
(Staten Island NY)

one of my students accidenttally put a chair down on my left big toe joints and sat down hard. Since then I have had pain in the area and can't wear any shoe that puts pressure there. I wear flip flops and some flat boots. I have tried alcohol shots to deaden ther nerve, accupuncture but nothing helps.



I already had great toe joint replacement on my right foot after a computer table fell on it. What kind of doctor should I see now for the left foot?

RESPONSE
Hi Ann,
Since I am a podiatrist I am partial to podiatrists as they are the doctor who best knows the diseases and conditions of the foot.
So far, it seems, you have not had any treatment that makes any sense for the trauma that you suffered on your great toe.
I would have hoped that you at least had an x-ray to see the extent of damage you did to the joint, or the adjacent bones. If there is no sign of a chip fracture or any other kind of fracture for that matter, then I would recommend you consider undergoing physical therapy for a month to see if you can get the joint to stop hurting.
I know nothing about your age or overall health but suffice it to say that if you required an implant on your other foot then this foot probably exhibits some degree of arthritis.
Once again, if the x-ray was negative then all you did was inflame the joint when the chair hit your foot.
Usually physical therapy possibly along with anti-inflammatory medication (if you can tolerate it) can go a long way in reducing your symptoms.
Additionally, a cortisone injection may also be of benefit.
During this time period you should stay in a rigid type shoe; a shoe that does not bend easily at the ball of the foot. The point to that is that the less the shoe bends, the less demand that is put on the toe to try and bend and the less pain you will experience.
If this course of therapy works great, if not, then you can always consider surgery and once again I would recommend you see a podiatrist.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

MedlinePlus

Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center
If you happen to live in the New York - New Jersey area and would like to visit our office

Dr. Marc Mitnick

151 Summit Ave.
Summit, NJ 07901
908-522-0761


To make an appointment online or for directions to our office click Dr. Marc Mitnick.

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this site is purely informational in nature. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition. This information is not a substitute for advice from a medical professional. Please consult your healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis and treatment. The information presented here may be subject to errors and omissions.


SITE LAST UPDATED: APRIL 2026




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(location unknown)
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(location unknown)
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(location unknown)
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(location unknown)
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Unknown location

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Unknown location

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New Zealand

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Arizona
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Florida
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Poland
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South Carolina
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Arlington, VA


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San Clemente, CA


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Pam

location unknown


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location unknown


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Bre

location unknown


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anonymous



Dr. Mitnick, Thank you, you were 100% correct. The pain finally brought me to the ER. I spent 8 days in the hospital. The Doppler you spoke of was able to show that there was no pulse in that foot. This was an arterial clot that split and traveled throughout my leg. My leg was almost amputated. I am in rough shape but have all my parts intact!! You certainly know what you are talking about. Thank you for taking the time to answer. Yours Truly!

anonymous



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Poland



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Seattle, WA


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Bonnie

location unknown



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New Jersey



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Debbie

location unknown



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Chrissy

location unknown



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Evansville, IA



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San Diego, CA



Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

Rivi,

Albany, NY



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Jill S.

location unknown



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Whichita, KS



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mark

Boston, MA



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Colorado



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Colorado

Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

Thank you for this information. This description fits my pain and inflammation behind my 2nd toe perfectly.

by: Max

location unknown
Again, I really appreciate that you responded to my inquiry, and that your mention of Parkinson's helped me to find my way to a diagnosis of this difficult to diagnose disease. Most patients see on average 16 doctors before they are diagnosed. I hope that you can help other people that ask for your expertise in the future.

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Canada
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location unknown
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Wisconsin
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Julie

location unknown
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North Carolina
Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

location unknown

Thanks again doc for having this website and we STILL need qualified Podiatrists in beautiful sunny Tampa Bay (Bradenton) Florida.

Bessie Mae

Florida
Dear Dr. Mitnick, Thank you so very much for taking your time to answer my question. You have greatly relieved my anxiety related to the continual tingly I feel in my feet. I will share your response with my podiatrist next week. God bless you for having this question and answer page on your website! Most gratefully,

Lynne T.

location unknown
Your webpage is excellent, I commend you on sharing your knowledge to the public.

Robert

New Jersey


Thank you. you were more detailed than what others have told me they finally called from the last xrays and my son is now in a cast for 2 weeks he did have a fracture that was not noticeable.

a mom

location unknown


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Lenoir, NC


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Bellevue, WA


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Jodi

location unknown

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