If you stub your toe on the coffee table and it swells up, you know it’s not from gout. But what about when you suddenly notice your toe is swollen and you don’t recall bumping into any furniture or dropping something heavy on it? How do you know if it’s from gout or something else? Here are some possible scenarios.
Possible causes of a swollen toe
- Injury
If you were recently doing some physical exercise or a sport and later notice a swollen toe, determine if other symptoms are present. Bruising, redness, warmth in the area, pain and limited movement may indicate that you’ve sprained, fractured or broken your toe. Stress fractures are quite common with repetitive activities, such as running. If the pain stops when you rest, it’s more likely an injury than gout.
- Ingrown toenail
When a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, it can lead to inflammation and even infection. The area that’s inflamed may look like a bump. You’ll need to see your doctor to determine if surgery is necessary to fix the ingrown toenail.
- Gout
Gout is a type of arthritis that leads to the formation of crystals in and around the joints. It most commonly occurs at the base of the big toe, although other joints—such as the knee and ankle—may be affected. The pain often appears suddenly with maximum intensity within the first day. If the toe is also red and warm to the touch, it could be gout.
- Arthritis
There are several types of arthritis. In addition to gout, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can lead to toe pain and stiffness. The joints may even become deformed due to swelling. While osteoarthritis is typically just due to “wear and tear” on the joints, rheumatoid arthritis is due to your body’s immune system attacking its own joints and tissues.
