Numbness in Big Toe

[Stevent]

Hello, for the last week I have had a numb left big toe. It is not discolored, it is healthy and red just like all my other toes. It has been numb constantly and the strange feeling is starting to become annoying.

There are no other problems I am aware of except some skin peeling on my foot. And last month I was using something to fight foot fungus. I have been travelling a bit lately, long flights etc. Could have something to do with it.

[Philniki]

I have the same problem left foot big toe it's extremely large but mines has some discolor not painful but tingles a lot I wish I could get an answer from someone doctor gives me a different answer each week HELP ANYONE

[jonkob]

A related discussion, Bog Toe Tips Numb was started.

[prettytony]

can anyone say in grown toe nail? I have the same problem but I noticed when I file the edges of my toe nail down the problem goes away. I think I need to just go and have the toe nail removed like my older brother did but I don't like going under the knife so i'll probably keep filing away... I hope this helps...

[Leffrey1]

Strange...the outer top corner of my large toe has bend numb after a 20 hour flight from the far east 6 weeks ago.  I went to gp, cardiologist and neurologist with no luck.  I have been stretching a lot hoping it was a back problem, but also no help.  Have you any input after 4 years?

[blisssss]

Well, I developed this problem by running barefoot! Go figure! (lol) When I finally decided to buy a pair of shoes fit for the purpose I ended up buying designer running shoes that barely gave support. Actually they had no support whatsoever. Knowing this for about two years I kept ignoring it because they weren't always that uncomfortable. One day last week I decided to run barefoot again and a day later is when I felt the numbing sensation in my right big toe. My dad always said don't run barefoot and that this could cause damage to your nerves in your feet and he always told me to get good running shoes. Me being me, I just put it off and thought am I really going to get nerve damage at 30? LoL, so I guess you can and now I get to deal with this slightly annoying setback. Anyway, I'm going to get the most comfortable, expensive, (haha) athletic running shoe on the market and start running with those. Hopefully I"ll get the feeling back. I mean I can still feel it, it's just tingly and numb, feels a little like I'm half human, half stone? Hahaha. Hopefully it will go away. My advice is to make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes for walking or running. And as far as slippers goes Abercrombie and Fitch has a pair that has really comfortable soft rubber soles on them. They are amazing. I bought my bf a pair but they weren't the ones I was talking about. They were a  leather pair and obviously not made made for comfort, he hates them. So if you find the rubber soles type then you're in luck. Juicy Couture's slippers has the same type of rubber sole but in a thicker heel. Super comfy. I almost want to say the Juicy ones are more comfortable but the A&F ones are like 9 bucks or less so super cheap. Though a store in New York was just infiltrated with bed bugs so I'd be careful, or you could just order them online! lol.

[2legitbrit]

I woke up two days ago to the tip of my right big toe completely numb. I have always been very aware of my personal chemistry/physiology, so ive done some research. As probability would have it, I fall into all of the major risk groups for such an affliction:
-Long hours standing/walking (service industry especially)
-Poor shoe quality (slip-proof kitchen shoes are not traditionally very supportive)
-My maternal line is predisposed to diabetes/hypoglycemia (last stage diabetics are known to have swelling and numbness in their extremities)
-High impact sports such as basketball, football, and snowboarding(I originally experienced this phenomenon while boarding in badly fitted, rented boots, thought nothing of it at the time).
-Frequent alcohol consumption which further contributes to the diabetic/blood sugar argument
-Recreational drug use, especially vaso-constrictors, such as cocaine, exctasy(MDMA), and methamphetamine(speed) based substances
-I was diagnosed with both Osgood's slaughter and Severe's disease before 13, both of which are hereditary calcium deficiency immune disorders that effect the knee and ankle joints
-Regular but not severe back and neck pain at the base of my skull and T-5 regions
My advice to all of you:
-Invest in high quality work shoes, the relief you feel will be worth the extra money
-Take your vitamins; a well-balanced multivitamin will increase calcium absorbtion from the dairy you already eat and improve organ function
-Lay off the high-calorie/sugar beverages. A whiskey and soda with a lime tastes just as good as a whiskey and sprite, but contains only a fourth of the calories
-Swim instead of run. Swimming has been proven to increase circulation, and has a positive affect on ailing joints. It is also a higher resistance workout for all muscle groups. 20 minutes in a pool will do much more for you than 20 minutes jogging.
-Walk barefoot at home. You know how awesome it feels when you take off your tie at the end of the day, your feet will appreciate it even more. While you are at it, stretch your toes; move them in different directions, pretend you are playing piano with them; just wiggle them a bit. It will help.
-For drug users: If you are hung-over or useless the next day; its a sign that your body could use a couple days off. Alcohol mixed with any drug intensifies the negative circulatory effects(except marijuana to the best of my knowledge.) Just listen to your body, it will tell you what it needs.

I was flabergasted at the number of posts on this topic, and I hope we can all help each other to a greater communal health.

[redrobbo]

Me too...
Not completely numb in Left Big Toe. Also sometimes foot and calf  'seems' a bit weird. All reflexes normal - Docs doing blood tests...
said it was difficult to diagnose since I'm otherwise healthy - but if there *Was* a cause then it would be bad news!! WTF!!!

[CCTOE]

Numbness now for one week. Right big toe. Placid lifestyle, no extended trips, wear flip flops a lot, but always have. I am 50. I am retired. I take xanax and prozac. I eat irregularly, (not always three times per day). My blood glucose level is usually 100 when I see the Dr. I am otherwise in good health. No identifiable associated symptoms; no sores, lumps or bumps. Just this approximately 1 inch in diameter numbness On top and around the medial aspect of my big right toe.

[Bobie77]

I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I have lesions in my brain stem, thorasic and lower lumbar. I wake up every morning with the feeling that something is between my big toe and second toe upon standing. This is gradually getting worse. I have severe pain in my hands and my arms and hands go numb while sleeping, especially if I am lying on my back! You all should go to a doctor and tell them to refer you to a neurologist as this sounds like a nervous system problem.

[turnerd]

My symptoms are a little different. I'm 20 years old and I have the flattest feet I've ever seen a person have. I experience numbness in between my big toe and the one right next to it. I've had this weird sensation my entire life but I've never been able to accurately explain the symptoms to my parents or a doctor. Because of this, I've been treated for atheletes foot and many other frustrating diseases.

Recently (the last couple of years) I've experienced the same numbness on the outside of where my arch should be. I've been to many doctors and I wear custom made arch supports daily. I still can not make the discomfort go away.

One more thing: this kind of seems odd but a lot of times I get the urge to press against a certain spot between my first 2 toes. No matter how hard I press, I can't seem to relieve the discomfort I feel. I get cramps in the arches of my feet daily.

SOMEONE HELP!!!

[chris112579]

we are all crazy, so many people with the same problem and all too busy to go to a doctor, ha ha ha, still reading all your comments made me feel a little better , so for now i will continue to look down to see if something is stuck in between my big toe and and 2nd toe , let me know if anyone dies from this , then i will go to doctor.

[PlaceyAUS]

I had a numbness in my left big toe, and nothing in my right big toe.  This all started as my lower disc in my back was putting pressure on certain areas restricting either blood flow or nerves to that area.  A lower back disorder even if you are stiff in the back when standing up can show a bulge in the lower disc.  It is actually very common for the left big toe to go numb when this disc bulges.  I put up with mine for 2 months before I got the feeling back.  Hope this helped.

[lollyp]

This is really weird! The big toe on my left foot is numb too. It's not pins & needles & it's not totally numb either (I can still feel pain and pressure but it feels like it's 'gone to sleep' a bit). I have no back issues or any other health problems. I don't have any peeling skin or anything like that either. The only thing I can think of is that I often sit crosslegged in the 'lotus' position but I do move around a lot. I also exercise a fair bit and don't wear tight shoes etc.

I'm seeing my doc on Monday so will ask her and post her response. I must admit it has freaked me out a bit!

[jpr777]

The right tip of my big toe is numb or dull also. I've had a lot of people give me bad info. Like its MS, Neuropathy or I could be Diabetic. Its good to hear this is an issuse that can be less scary and very normal. Its not getting worst and I've tried Stevent's test. It still remained numb. I know I'm not Diabetic so it must be a nerve issue. Keep me updated on any info you have. No one wants to spend thousands of dollars on tests and get no answers.

[Melove]

I recently took a 4 1/2 hour drive to a funeral. I wore my tennis shoes, which are not tight. However, for the funeral I wore some heels, which I rarely wear, and the shoes were just a bit tight on the toes. I only had to stand for about 15 minutes. Now I have this numbness on the tip of my big toe (R). Annoying, slightly tender to the touch.
I checked to make sure I didn't have an ingrown toenail. Nothing.
I can only assume it was from the shoes, because I have NEVER had this problem before.

[aimee8170]

Me too! I just noticed yesterday that my left toe is also numb. Thought maybe I had an ingrown but I don't.                   That's a good theory about tight shoes. The last time I wore tight shoes was a few months ago. And they are tight on my toes. Since then, I mostly wear sandals.  Could they have been numb since then and I've just noticed?                          I have No pain nothing. Its just annoying. I forget that its even numb. But when I remember that it is, I touch it to see if it still is, and it is! What bothers me about it even more is not knowing the cause or reason why. Just glad I'm not alone.

[jrginnyc]

The numbness in your toe is most likely associated with a back injury and Sciatica. Pain down the leg and across the ankle and top of the foot are also common with this type of injury. A compressed disk is the most likely specific problem.

[DamienDR]

i have numbness in my big toe on my left foot it started two days ago i just moved to hawaii and have been wearing flip flops a lot and where im originally form i never wore flip flops and ive been walking all over the town im in like almost everyday and i have blisters and sores on my feet skin peels and stuff but the numbness starts at the bottom of my big toe on my  left foot and goes a lil on the side of my foot if anyone can give some answers it would be greatly appreciated

[DamienDR]

i have numbness in my big toe on my left foot it started two days ago i just moved to hawaii and have been wearing flip flops a lot and where im originally form i never wore flip flops and ive been walking all over the town im in like almost everyday and i have blisters and sores on my feet skin peels and stuff but the numbness starts at the bottom of my big toe on my  left foot and goes a lil on the side of my foot if anyone can give some answers it would be greatly appreciated

[cassie123460]

maybe you need to just put your fat toe in peoples faces and just keep them out all the time then your fat toe will feel better.


                                         feel better fat toe...

[bigtoesolution702]

Both of my big toes became numb after I had my daughter. I believe it was from carrying her around on my hips that threw my entire body out of whack. I dealt with this for a year until I finally decided to try and solve this annoying problem. I found out that I had been over-pronating and putting a lot of pressure on my big toes when I walked. I recently bought a pair of Orthaheel brand flip flops and after only a few days of wearing them, I can feel my toes and no more tingle! The shoes are uncomfortable at first because the soles are realigning the foot and ankle, but once that happens, they become much more comfortable. I feel like I have slightly better posture in them as well. This isn't quite a diagnosis, but it's a possible solution for some of you... it was for me!

[hingoro]

I am having numbed R toe for about 6 months and went to see neuro physicien. she said the there are three reasons for this numbness 1. wrong shoes 2. some nerves blocked or hurt in backbone or any problem in the left part of the brain.
She suggest so many tests which i didnt do but I did discuss this issue with my collegue who is a doctor she went through the recomended test list and she pointed a test B12 level, for that she said instead of going for any test you start taking vitamine B 12 suppliment and observe the result cos most of the time due to the defeciency of this vitamin people get nerves problems.
I have just started taking B12 suppl and found helpful, beside this I am taking foot massage also and have changed my shoes.

For shoes you have to explore yourself , usually best shoes are those which suits your feet shape and the tip for best shoes is that after wearing couple of hour if you feel no stress on your legs and foot this means it worked.

[PowerSurge301]

I had numbness in my big toes and after discussion with my doctor we were able to link the numbness to 'flip-flops'.  There is a major nerve that runs inside portion of the big toe and extended wearing of 'flip flops' will compress this nerve and cause numbness.  Flip Flops were not desinged for extened wear (all day at the park) and other types of long walks.  Changed to walking shoes.  No numbness!  Suggestion - leave the flip flops for in the house not outdoors.

[kittensis]

     Hi im a 23 year old from california. Im so glad to hear others have had this problem. Im sure their are many causes but i thought id tell you my story :)
     My boyfriend freaked me out when he had something similar and it was caused by a deep infection. I didnt understand how an infection could not only affect your nerves but your blood circulation too. If im standing or walking no matter the shoe my L big toe starts aching. at first it was a numb feeling but its almost been a year now and i still feel the affects. Im pretty sure i know the cause tho and its not something thats been listed yet...yoga.
      I used to take a yoga class a few times a week when i started working at this really nice gym. one of the simple stretches that is done all the time is sitting on your ankles to bend the toes forward. It always hurt me and i usually could stand it no longer than 10sec while everyone else lasted minutes. I asked my favorite teacher why i couldnt do it and he said that i needed more practice and to try stretching like that every morning....stupid ***! A week into my new morning routine my toe bagan going numb. Doesnt hurt all the time but its a year later and its still caused by not only standing on it or walking too long but also cold weather. heating pads helped and coming home from work id run hot water on it. massaging and resting my foot is the best thing i have found so far. it hurts to press in certain places like the bone is bent but i can bend it fine. The only difference in my toes are sometimes it looks more purple and when i put my toes together and press on them with my fingers one is white for a second and the blood retuns quickly while the other takes about 20 seconds to become pink again. ive tried this on different parts of my foot but everything else seems normal. Its definatly a toe thing caused by a sprain, pinched nerve, weird vein change, or whatever. All I know is that I caused it by doing yoga.
     So if you lasted my long story thanks and stay in there. Its a toe, not the end of the world. oh! and if you ever go to yoga please dont be stupid like me and sit on your toes. this **** is really annoying!