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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

Stabbing electric like pain in three toes of foot

by Steve Malm
(Fresno, CA 93728)

Beginning about a week ago, I had this stabbing pian in my big toe and the two adjacent toes of the left foot. This generally happens when the foot is raised and I'm off it. At rest. Pulling on the toes seems to help it as does walking on it. It feels like someone hitting the tips of the toes (the top joints) with a sledgehammer. It lasts for minutes, thankfully, until I can get it into some better position. I even bought new shoes and today it did it within the shoes as I was bending the toes.

Any thoughts? It's not gout, I was tested.

Apreciatively, Steve

Hi Steve,
To me, it sounds like a neurological problem with the nerve that is a little further back in your foot. That would be the only way I could account for the first, second and third toes to all be involved.
Your complaint is not a "standard presentation" so if this pain persists I think an appointment with a podiatrist would be called for.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Comments for Stabbing electric like pain in three toes of foot

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Sep 09, 2011
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pain in toes
by: Anonymous

It;s probably gout. Your doctor can put you on medication to prevent build-up of acid and another medication when you actually have a flare up.

Nov 24, 2010
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Re Pain in the foot
by: Dave Kingnonymous

Hmm, so you have a pain in your foot, best things happen to people like you

Jul 13, 2009
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What stabbing toe pain might be
by: Steve

Mark,

I have thought of something it might be and maybe you can tell me if I'm cracked and shouldn't engage in self-diagnosis. Firstly, I had a doctor friend, a GP, tell me it could be lack of blood supply which can cause intense pain. Since the pain hits me, electric-like, sledgehammer, usually at complete rest of the foot, that fits. Now, I have been trying to quit smoking and taking Committ lozenges for too long, about six months, 4mg perhaps 8 per day.

It occurs to me that since nicotene contricts the blood vessels and I may have that built up in my system, this could be the culprit. I stopped taking them yesterday and today and so far have had very little tingling and no pain. It is true that prior, the only incidents of pain seemed to occur late of night when I was off my feet (which would also mean I had consumed a day's ration of this stuff). But, so far, no pain and only a bit of tingling (which usually receded pain. Recall that I could get rid of the pain after a few moments of getting my foot in motion.

Is it conceivable that this might be it?

Steve

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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

MedlinePlus

Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center

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Unknown location

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New Jersey

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Colorado

Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

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location unknown

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North Carolina

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Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

location unknown

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Florida

Dear Dr. Mitnick, Thank you so very much for taking your time to answer my question. You have greatly relieved my anxiety related to the continual tingly I feel in my feet. I will share your response with my podiatrist next week. God bless you for having this question and answer page on your website! Most gratefully,

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a mom

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location unknown

Stabbing electric like pain in three toes of foot

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