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Sharp shooting toe pain

Discussion in 'Ask your questions here' started by lowiness, May 9, 2010.

  1. lowiness

    lowiness Guest


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    Two nights ago I woke up screaming because it felt like someone was trying to saw off my toes. The pain disappeared within a few seconds so I thought it had been a dream.

    Later that day the same thing happened. Sudden sharp HORRID pain in the first three toes on my right foot (mainly the tips). It came on so fast and hurt so bad I literally screamed and fell over. Again the pain went away within a few seconds. It felt like knives and electric shocks. Obviously this wasn't caused by a dream.

    I've been googling my symptoms and not having any luck finding anything that matches this. I've come up with gout, Raynaud's, Morton's Neuroma, stroke, peripheral neuropathy, etc. But none of those fit. The pain is sudden, but disappears very quickly. My toes aren't warm, or cold, to the touch. I haven't lost use of them. They aren't changing colors. There are no bumps anywhere. It's the first three toes, not the last two. Etc.

    Today it's been happening a LOT more often. I called my insurance nurses line and they said it sounds like a nerve issue and that going to the ER or urgent care would be pointless since there's nothing that can be done without a nerve conduction study. In the meantime I'm in tears because I never know when it's going to happen. I'm on propranalol so I'm not supposed to take ibuprofen, and I can't take tylenol. I have no idea what to do to make this stop. I keep waking up my baby because I scream when it hits.

    Does this sound familiar to anyone? Any suggestions on how to get through until I can see my primary doctor (Tuesday at the earliest)? I feel so lost.
     
  2. Marie

    Marie Guest

    I FEEL YOUR PAIN! WHAT is it!!?

    This bizarre and horrible SCREAMING TOE pain has happened to me -> two nights in a row....and again this afternoon. Like somebody has visciously driven an ice pick into my toes, as I lay in bed reading (socks on). Only lasted a few seconds, went away, then back for a few seconds....gone and forgotten. But Gee Whiz! Talk about shooting pain!!! OUCH!! I was squirming in my bed and gasping. It's a scary pain...and my toes look fine.

    Now it just happened as I was sitting at my desk. Not as bad though. Wearing snug sneakers.

    I take no drugs. I'm in my early 40's. I don't smoke or drink. I am average height and good health. I golf twice a week. I rarely ever wear high heels, but I did wear a pair of boots for a short bit of walking the first night I felt this pain.

    Marie
     
  3. Maher

    Maher Guest

    I have the same few months ago, went to doctor who said that your body missing B12 and he bescribe me B12 1000 mcg tablet after 1 or 2 tablets I feel it way much better and kept using B12 daily .....I notice when I don't take my daily dosage I start to feel little pain but not close to the one we seems all we share .....
    Today, I have extreme sharp pain ...then I remember that I didn't take my B12 for few days. I call my doctor to see what I should do.

    I will update you as soon as I meet my doctor.
     
  4. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    did you ever find out about your toe pain and if so what was it? I am having the same problem and someone told me it was fibromaylagia. I don.t want to believe this so I am searching for answers.
     
  5. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    This sounds like GOUT! The pain comes on very sudden and is intense! It can happen any time of the day. If you think you have gout, encourage your doctor to do a serum uric acid blood test. If the results are greater than 7mg/dL, then you do have this condition. There are a couple GOUT meds that help quiet a bit. I've found that the anti-inflammatory meds don't help me very much. You actually need to control/reduce the amount of uric acid in your system.
     
  6. Tammy

    Tammy Guest

    Re: Sharp shooting toe pain (Right Foot)

    I also began having the same pain in my right foot as you describe about 18 months ago. The pain would happen sporadically (sitting, walking driving, sleeping) and typically last between 10-45 seconds. This went on for about 8 weeks and I decided to see a doctor - who sent me to a specialist - who found nothing. The pain mysteriously disappeared for about 6 months - returned again for a couple of week - disappeared again and now it started again 3 days ago. The pain was excruciating and occurred at least 20 times through out the day. The pain went away for two days and then happened this evening. This time the pain was in the big toe and the entire top portion of my foot. It was PAINFUL!! I saw that one of the responses mentioned something about B12 helping. I have taken B12 religously for several years and still seem to have this problem. I feel so helpless...
     
  7. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Could it be multiple sclerosis?
     
  8. I just turned 68 and i have had these shooting pains in the ends of two toes in my left foot for the past several years (4 to 5) ,i also have had a lot of trouble with dry and extremly itchy eyes and dry mouth (dry mouth when sleeping} when i googled this one of the answers came up as sjogrens syndrome and when i cheked the site/sites out i found that symtoms from a to z that i had many symtoms unfortunatly the sites did not offer very many cures to alleviate the problems r. J .shilton
     
  9. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Oh my god! This just started happening to me too a couple weeks ago. It isn't always on the same foot or the same toe. It feels like its being burned from the inside out but only lasts a few seconds. It has been so bad it has woken me up. I noticed that my feet have been swelling lately once in a while too, but that has been going on longer than the random pains. If anyone figures this out I'd like to know.
     
  10. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Yes! "Burning from the inside out" is exactly what it feels like. Just started happening to me last week.
     
  11. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I have been having this mysterious toe pain on and off for the past several months. I wonder if anyone else gets frequent migraines as I do and if this could be related in some way. I have also noticed that if I have my ankles crossed or am cutting off the circulation in one of my legs/feet I will get the shooting pain in my foot.
     
  12. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I get sharp pains in my big toe, feels like you stubbed it, or dropped something on it. Always on the left foot, sometimes just the big toe, others times it accross all of my toes, it's right on the end of my toe, on the cuticle, it's quite painful. Sometimes so bad that feels like the pain is going all the way up my back. It doesn't matter if I am sitting, standing, or lying down.
     
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2011
  13. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I started having the same pain in my left 3 toes (not my big toe). It seems to have come on when I started wearing slight heels (woman). I am going to begin stretching exercises which I have not been doing lately... I will let you know if this improves it... Stretching helps a lot of things, so I suggest trying it.
     
  14. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I am not a doctor or medical anything****I am a patient, this is my personal experience**yes you are correct, , I also think getting a "B" shot gave me a way cool super human strength Immediantly, I believe your problem is nerve damage Umong other serious issues this will not cure your situation , but it will give you some relief and some peace ithrough out the rest of your body. I have Fibromaylagia and I am female , My doctors have been with me on this one for over 11yrs, get checked for a tumor in the throat & also check for a serious thyroid issue, Men the signs are the same for you. **so men get tested**. Are you suffering from a dry mouth situation..but no heavy or feels randomly super dry? people say I should have myself tested for diebetes? any one whom can answer this one ? >>>>>please answer here!
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2012
  15. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I am not a doctor or medical anything****I am a patient & this is my
    personal experience**

    yes you are correct, , I also think getting a "B" shot gave me a way cool super human strength Immediantly,
    I believe your problem is nerve damage, about the "b" shot it will give you some relief and some peace ithrough out the rest of your body. o.K going back to what I wanted to say is that I have Fibromaylagia and I am female
    My doctors have been with me on this one for over 11yrs, get checked for a tumor in the throat & also check for a serious thyroid issue, Men the signs are the same for you.
    **so men get tested**.

    I have a Question to place out theere?
    Are you suffering from a dry mouth situation..but no heavy or feels randomly super dry? people say I should have myself tested for diebetes? any one whom can answer this one ? >>>>>please answer here!
     
  16. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I've had the same shooting pain every once and a while for the last 4 years. It got to the point also when it would wake me up in the middle of the night, it happens while I'm driving or sitting at my desk. I went to a foot doctor and she told me it was Morton's neuroma. It's caused by wearing to tight shoes, pointy toe high heels, etc. The nerve in the top of your foot is inflamed and needs a shot of cortisone. The doctor will give it to you in the nerve ( it burns/ stings really bad for a couplr of seconds) right in front of your second and third toes. You will not have the pain for awhile but it will come back sooner or later. My doctor recommended surgery but I'm not sure. I just try not to wear heels and where comfy shoes. I hope that helps.
     
  17. lkerry

    lkerry Guest

    I have been waking up to a painful, quick grabbing sensation in my big left toe. Initially, I wondered if it was due to a bad pedicure. Many years ago, I had partial ingrown toenail surgery on that toe, is it coming back to haunt me? But it looks fine. I have a heart issue (AFIB) and read about heart issues frequently. I see where people with Peripheral Artery Disease have "foot or toe pain at rest that often disturbs sleep." Voila! My doctor just found that I have high cholesterol and put me on statins. Could it be that my cholesterol is so high now that I have blocked the arteries in my legs? Or, could it be a side effect of the medication I am taking (metoprolol). Anyway, PAD can be tested for by using an ankle-brachial index test that compares the blood pressure in your ankles vs. the blood pressure in your arms. I am sure there are other reasons for night toe pain, but this one seems relevant in my case. I will ask the doctor for this test.
     
  18. unregistered

    unregistered Guest

    I had the same problem!!!! Yes, I did go to the ER and had a full (and painful) nerve study test panel done on me. Of course it showed nothing. Finally, I saw a physician that put me on a nerve medication called Gabapentin. While this helped a tremendously, I would still have slight pain at night (much more tolerable with the Gabapentin!). I read about using ibuprofen and tried it and it worked almost instantly. (Being on blood thinners for a blood disorder, I too am not supposed to take Ibuprofen...However, I discussed it with my doctor and they recommended that I continue to use the combination of Gabapentin and Ibuprofen and were able to change my other medication to compromise.) I haven't had the pain since. I hope you feel relief soon! I understand!

    PS. I was informed that this condition is usually a result of nerve damage or blood clots. I have had both.
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2012
  19. deannak

    deannak New Member

    Have you tried laser therapy for the neuroma? My DPM just told me about it last week, right before I had cryosurgery. Kind of a "new" therapy for MN, might want to check it out, I'm going to! :)
     
  20. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Here's another angle on the sharp toe pain. These have happened to me several times in the past, and started up again the last few days. In my case, I know the cause and cure.

    I have a hammer toe on my second toe. That is, the front curls down and instead of pointing to the front of the shoe, points downward and rubs on the inner sole of the shoe. Over time, a thick, hard callous develops on the tip of the toe. (If the toenail grew out, it would make a little roof over the callous.) When the callous gets big enough, it apparently pushes into the tip of the toe. When it gets big and deep and thick enough, the excruciating intermittent sharp toe pains suddenly come on. They are sudden and severe make you jump out of your skin.

    The trick is to get rid of the callous. The quick way is to get a razor blade and carve down the hard callous tissue. It's a bit nerve-racking since you want to cut away the dead callous tissue without cutting into the underlying healthy live tissue. There are a lot of other options for removal that are much slower. Check them out on the Internet.

    I had been having the toe pains for the last couple of days when I decided in the late afternoon yesterday that the callous had to go. I took the razor blade approach to get the quickest relief. The sharp, sudden pains gradually diminished through the rest of the day. This morning, a bright new dawn. No pains whatever.

    I know this may not help everyone, but it is worth checking to see if you have a thick, hard callous on the hurting toe. If so, you might try this.

    nwebre@gmail.com
     
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