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

second toe swelling, gout?

its beeen 1 month now, i have consistantly worsening pain and swelling on top of and under the 2nd toe. All the other toes are fine and it hurts the minute i use the foot. At night i sleep fine but the second i put my foot on the ground it hurts. It is so ultra sensitive to touch on top, even to wear a sock, touch the fine hairs on the skin or take a shower. Throughout the day as i walk, it hurts more, and swells on top and on the ball underneath. The toe itself swells where the toe meets the foot. The toe isn't swollen, only where it joins the rest of the foot. i had it checked and the doctor told me i have a gout. and ask me to change my diet and hopefully it gets better. theres no change and im getting worried.

RESPONSE

Hi,

As I was reading through your narrative I was initially thinking gout as well. Gout may occur in any joint in the foot or ankle and if not properly treated, it can linger for a period of time. I wish I knew your sex and age as this is generally a male problem and usually only occurs in women who are post-menopausal.
However, the problem I have with gout as the diagnosis is the fact that in most gout attacks, the affected joint will hurt regardless of whether or not the patient is walking. Since the gout crystals irritate the joint, the joint will swell, become red and hot and will be consistently painful.
In your case it sounds like it does not bother too

much until you attempt to walk, where it then becomes very painful. So although gout is a possibility, it certainly does not sound like a classic example.
Most cases of gout are self limiting, meaning that given a week or toe, the symptoms subside and once again this is not your case. Having said that I should note that I have seen cases where undiagnosed gout may continue beyond a week or two.
In any event I think it would be in your best interest to get an accurate diagnosis. In most initial gout attacks the blood uric acid level is actually normal so in initial attacks that type of test is a waste of time. You have had the problem for a while now, so at the very least I think you should have a blood test.
Additionally, you have to rule out of potential sources of this pain.
An arthritic flare up of the joint is another possibility. (again, I wish I knew your age and some other things about you). If this condition is actually an arthritic flare up, it would tend to hurt you when you walk and not so much when at rest.
Other conditions that could be causing your problem are some of the collagen diseases one of which is rheumatoid arthritis, as an example.
So in closing, although you may be having a gout attack and if you are, your doctor should have given you medication and not just told you to change your diet (although that is also necessary). You also need a work up to rule out some of the other possibilities I have mentioned.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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Comments for second toe swelling, gout?

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Nov 28, 2017
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Is it gout or tendonitis
by: Hasnat

Hi, I m suffering from a pain over my second toe... There is dorsiflxion . there is slight swelling over foot.. i feel difficulty in walking. but my uric acid level is 9mg/dl. sex is male . age27.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Just remember, uric acid levels may be normal during an active gout attack.

Marc Mitnick DPM

Sep 20, 2017
Rating

2nd toe pain
by: Cprice

I am experiencing the same thing. I have had Morton's Nueroma surgery on this same foot, but it was on the 3rd and 4th toes. What I am feeling in my 2nd toe is burning, swelling and pain. I am an active 55+ female. I am seeing a foot and ankle orthopedic doctor and hoping for answers. I am thinking it is another nueroma or Capsulitis or what they whimsically call sausage toe. If you have access to search the web, look these up and see if your symptoms mimic any of these conditions.

Mar 31, 2017
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I also get a swollen second toe and painful feet
by: Claire

I have polycystic kidneys but I am not on dialysis.
I am 50 and in the past 5 months have experienced swelling of both middle toes and pins and needles on my left hand foot as well as bouts of barely being able to walk on my feet due to the pain. The swelling toes and puffy prickly feeling on the ball of my foot is worrying.
Thanks any advice?

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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

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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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location unknown

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location unknown

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location unknown

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Dear Marc

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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!

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Albany, NY

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Whichita, KS

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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

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Canada

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location unknown

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Wisconsin

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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

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Florida

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Lynne T.

location unknown

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New Jersey

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a mom

location unknown

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Lenoir, NC

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Bellevue, WA

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location unknown

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second toe swelling, gout?

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