*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Toe Pain

There are lots of causes of toe pain. You can usually ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.

How to ease toe pain yourself

If you see a GP about toe pain, they'll usually suggest trying these things:

rest and raise your foot when you can
put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your toe for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)
buddy strap a broken toe - put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between your sore toe and the next toe, and use tape to loosely strap it up (do not do this for a big toe or a badly broken toe)
try regular gentle stretching exercises

If you have toe pain, a pharmacist can advise you about:

pain in your toe is stopping you doing normal activities
the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
you have diabetes and foot pain - foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

What we mean by severe pain

Severe pain:: always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
you cannot sleep
it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
Moderate pain:: always there
makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Mild pain:: comes and goes
is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

These might be signs of a badly broken toe after an injury.

What we mean by severe pain

Severe pain:: always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
you cannot sleep
it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
Moderate pain:: always there
makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Mild pain:: comes and goes
is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

A sore toe is often caused by exercising too much or wearing shoes that are too tight.

Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing your toe pain.

Symptoms	Possible cause
Pain or swelling around the nail, nail curls into the toe	Ingrown toe nail
Hard bony lump near the big toe	Bunion
Pain, tingling and numbness when you're cold or stressed, toes can change colour	Raynaud's or chilblains
Pain, swelling, red or bruised toe, hurts to walk	Broken toe
Sudden pain, stiffness, red or hot swollen skin around the toe joint	Gout

Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.

Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.

If you have toe pain, you might be able to refer yourself directly to a podiatrist without seeing a GP.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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