Little Toe Pain Causes and Treatment Options Explained by Milwaukee Foot Doctors
Pain in your little toe isn’t necessarily minor. If it can knock a 300-pound lineman out of an NFL game, it can do a number on you, too. From corns and calluses to broken toes, there are numerous reasons for little toe pain. Below, our Milwaukee foot doctors explain various causes of little toe pain. We also explain the best DIY and professional treatment options for little toe pain.
Little Toe Pain Causes
Broken Toe: Broken toes are common and really painful. Stubbing the little toe or dropping a heavy object on it can cause the little toe pain associated with a break. Treatment for a broken toe includes immediate icing to reduce swelling, and taping the little toe to the next toe. See our Milwaukee foot doctor to make sure there is not damage elsewhere in the area. It is also important to check in with our Milwaukee foot specialists to ensure proper healing. Occasionally, the doctor will have to manually straighten the toe. It will then be protectively bandaged. Recovery might take a while, depending on the severity of the break. The healing time for a broken toe is generally about two months.
Nerve Irritation: Little toe pain can also be caused by an irritated nerve. The sural nerve starts at the Achilles and runs along your foot to the little toe. Icing and anti-inflammatories are usually sufficient in providing little toe pain relief. Prevent ongoing nerve irritation in the little toe by wearing proper footwear. High heels, tight shoes, ski boots and cycling shoes often cause this type of toe nerve pain. If the nerve remains entrapped, cortisone injections or physical therapy may be recommended to help break up scar tissue. Little toe surgery may be required, but only rarely.
Ingrown Toenail: An ingrown toenail is another common cause of little toe pain. Ingrown toenail symptoms often include pain, redness, swelling and sometimes signs of infection (pus, blood or watery discharge). Ingrown toenails are typically caused by ill-fitting shoes or improper nail care.
Tailor’s Bunion: A tailor’s bunion (Bunionette) occurs when the little toe sticks out due to a foot deformity. Most often this type of bunion is caused by ill-fitting footwear. A Bunionette is painful, red and hard. It’s on the outside of the toe, which causes the little toe to point inward. Ice and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories relieve little toe pain and swelling.
Corns: Corns are calluses on the toes which are caused by friction. Ill-fitting shoes are often the cause. If the shoes are too tight, the little toe is exposed to most of the friction. If you switch to better-fitting shoes, corns on the little toe will often heal themselves. Especially large corns usually need to be removed by our Milwaukee foot surgeon.
Milwaukee Foot Doctors Offer Highly Effective Treatments for Little Toe Pain
Little toe pain can be caused by a number of things including a stubbed toe, broken toe, ingrown toenail, bunions, corns or ill-fitting shoes. There are many reasons for little toe pain. Fortunately, our Milwaukee foot doctors offer various highly effective treatments to relieve little toe pain and help you prevent it in the future. From physical therapy or custom orthotics to pain laser treatments or minor surgery, we provide a wide range of surgical and non-surgical treatments for little toe pain.
When you need fast, effective toe pain relief turn to the experts at Great Midwest Foot and Ankle Centers. Our innovative state of the art equipment, paired with our talented Milwaukee foot specialists makes us the podiatric and orthopedic clinic Wisconsin trusts most.