Sore big toe joint

[Maumel]

Evening all. So after my elation in completing my first 10k, (thanks all for your congrats 😀), I still have a sore big toe joint. It’s across the top of the toe where it bends so a lot of footwear aggravates it. I’ve had a couple of weeks off, having been on holiday, but ran. 3.5k quite easily today but it’s sore and throbbing again. Not agony, just annoying.

I’ve not found an answer that fits online. Has anyone had anything similar? I’m guessing that I need to rest it for longer maybe. 😕

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

This is probably a simple question but we’re your shoes fitted at a running shop? There should be at least a thumbs width of space in front of your toes in your shoes. Also are your socks crumpling up your toes? Longer distance does make feet swell or spread more that the short distances, so even if shoes were ok before, it might be time to get fitted again. I hope you find the answer.

[Maumel Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks for answering. The shoes weren’t fitted in a running shop no. I know that I should probably do that. Although it only happened after that one run. There was no pain before that day at all, even after the 8 & 9 k’s leading up to it. So I wandered if it might be an injury, specific to that day 🤔

[SlowLoris in reply to Maumel]

Take the insole out and you should be able to see the indent of your foot. When you run and bend your foot at the forefoot it takes more room in the shoe. If you have enough miles in the shoes you should be able to see how close your toes go to the end of the insole. If there’s no clean space at the end get bigger shoes.

[Cantsoimgonna Graduate10]

I developed the same issue after I had achieved my first 10k. I did another 10k then had to cut back because the pain in one of my big toe joints. I carried on running but it was starting to niggle after 5ks and I thought I'd have to sit on the injury couch. But after months of ignoring it and sticking to 5k I got a podiatry appointment where they used a special pad to analyse my gait amongst other things. I have hypermobility (flexible joints) and he said my toes had dropped lower than they should be and my foot is collapsing in on the big toes. I now have special innersoles to correct this and have been given strengthening exericises to help build up stability. He said that there was no need to stop running -yah! Just sharing in case any of this could be your issue.

[Maumel Graduate10 in reply to Cantsoimgonna]

Thanks, that’s really interesting

[bobthebuilder]

I have suffered with pain in my big toe joint for many years, I was 27 when it 1st started, and just like you came out of the blue, fine one day, hobbling the next!! An xray showed early wear and tear in the joint. The advice then and still is to ensure all your shoes are supportive, never wear heels, and for running ensure you have a minimum of an 8mm toe drop to take the pressure off the joint. I use Brooks running shoes, they have been a godsend, this thankfully never stopped me running 😃 If your pain continues I would recommend a GP appointment, but hopefully yours is not the same as mine, and will disappear as quickly as it arrived!!

[Brams8888]

It could be gout - a form of arthritis that tends to flair up - your doc can prescribe a steroid to knock down the flair up

[WeavingWonk Graduate10]

My right big toe joint gets jammed up. The joint doesn't move as freely as it should, and it has the beginnings of arthritis (along with my little toes, right ankle, and much of my spine) When I go up on tiptoes you can see a marked difference between how far the big toe bends on each foot. So I wear a shoe with lots of support and a fairly stiff sole so it doesn't have to bend as far. And I do some stretching before I run, including loosening up that toe.

A colleague runs as well and she has one big toe joint that bends very little without pain due to ligament problems, so she wears a stiff pad under her forefoot so ensure it doesn't, until she summons up the energy to get the surgery she needs. And she runs HMs regularly.

I encourage you to have it looked at to rule out any serious problems such as a fracture etc. And then go and get shoes properly fitted, with plenty of room for your toes, assuming there's nothing seriously wrong.