Symptoms of inflammation in the big toe

Inflammations of the big toes can show different symptoms depending on the underlying clinical picture. However, non-specific inflammatory symptoms are common to most inflammations of the big toe. Swelling, reddening and overheating of the toe is evident.

The swelling may be limited to the nail bed or nail fold or may affect the entire toe. The latter is often the case with an acute attack of gout. The pain varies in intensity, but is usually described as stabbing and throbbing.

They become worse with touch and movement. If the pain is very severe, the mobility of the toe may be restricted, so that a gentle position is adopted. The symptoms also differ in their onset.

While nail bed inflammation can sometimes begin rather insidiously or be characterized by a slow and progressive (worsening) course, a gout attack (podagra) begins very suddenly and is characterized by very severe pain. Depending on the extent of the inflammation, a panaritium or a paronychia may also show purulent areas. If the inflamed cuticle bursts open, pus or blood may also leak out.

Systemic or extensive deep purulent inflammation can also lead to generalized symptoms such as fever, fatigue and chills. In the worst case, a systemic infection and a large abscess in the toe can also lead to blood poisoning if not treated in time. Rheumatoid inflammation of the big toe is rather rare. In most cases, other joints, often the base joints of both hands, are also affected. In addition to the local inflammation symptoms, such as pain, redness and swelling, other symptoms such as night sweat, slight fever and muscle pain can also occur.

Inflammation at the ball of the big toe

The “ball” of the big toe can be inflamed when germs enter through injuries such as lacerations or abrasions. These can lead to a purulent infection of the tissue, which can be very painful. The bunion can also be affected by inflammation of the joint or nail bed.

However, an isolated inflammation of the bunion is rather unlikely except in the case of a wound infection. In the context of a deep nail bed inflammation, however, a purulent involvement of the bunion is likely. A so-called hallux rigidus hinders the rolling movement of the toe during walking and thus leads to pain in the bunion. Strictly speaking, however, hallux rigidus is not an inflammatory but a degenerative disease of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe. This means that it is a joint degeneration.