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On and off pain in my first big toe

S

Shaparon

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Good afternoon everyone, I am from Nigeria, Iv been having this on and off pain on my big toe and I am presently on Neurovite. I’ve complained to the doctors but they are not serious about it and is driving me to depression. I am 37 years old. Type 2. Pls any help or anyone from Lagos Nigeria I can talk to? Pls I need your advise. Thanks
 
Hello and welcome to the forum.

May I ask a couple of questions which will make it easier for members to offer appropriate advice, please.
What, if any, medications are you taking, do you monitor your blood glucose levels at home and what was the result of your most recent HbA1c.
 
I think it could be the sort of thing that I have been having over the years, as well as my sister and my friend as we all have diabetes. We've all experienced occasional episodes of really sharp stabbing, burning pains in just one toe, mine is the middle one on my left foot. It feels like a knife is stabbing it every few seconds and this comes on very suddenly and might last anything from a few times for a couple of minutes to overnight and then it goes as suddenly as it came, sometimes not coming back for months. Diabetes can give you nerve problems called neuropathy so perhaps you should get your feet checked out.
 
I've been having the stabbing pains for over a year now which is peculiar as I can't feel my feet because of the neuropathy. I can go weeks without any trouble then it will flare up again. My GP has tried different medications but because I have several conditions and take several medications we haven't found anything that consistently works yet. I suggest you badger your doctors some more as maybe there is something to help you.
When it's really bad my beloved will massage the offending foot which helps, I can't feel the massage but it helps me to relax. It seems to come when I'm stressed or tired but not always.
Hope some of this helps to know that you are not alone, there is always someone around on the forums to help if they can.
 

Its called gout.

Edited by moderator
 
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ianwj said:
Its called gout.
Click to expand...
It is NOT GOUT. I have suffered from gout and if you had gout, you would be in no doubt about it. Gout is absolute screaming agony, as if acid is being dripped into your (usually) big toe joint. Even a bedsheet brushing against your toe is agony.
I am recently diagnosed type 2 and have also had brief stabbing pain in my big toe which takes your breath away with its albeit brief intensity. It comes and goes. I am not sure if it is diabetes related, but I know for certain it is not the constant agony of gout.
 
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President Holmes - nobody on this forum can diagnose your problem. This is a forum of people living with diabetes, who are at risk of diabetes, of who are supporting a family member with diabetes.

Our members will share experiences, but they cannot diagnose.

For clarification, of your situation you should consult your doctor.
 
Your doctor should be able to decide what it is. My beloved suffers from gout and the pain is different and my doctor ruled out gout fairly early on.
 
presidentholmes said:
I am recently diagnosed type 2 and have also had brief stabbing pain in my big toe which takes your breath away with its albeit brief intensity. .
Click to expand...
Oh I SO agree with that a couple of years back I used to get the hat pin stabs on a regular random basis in varying places, just drifting of to sleep and YELP! fully awake.
Mercifully it occurs much less these days and to a lesser painful degree.
All of this occurred after my a1c was at normal levels too.
 
I have a condition called hallux rigidus in one of my big toes which means the main joint does not bend. It was probably caused due to trauma when wearing badly fitting shoes. It can cause pain similar to gout at times. I had it 20 years before I had diabetes so it is not related. I am not suggesting this is the OP's problem only that it could be all sorts of things and getting diagnosis from a doctor is necessary.
 
I agree with Mr_Pot (Bill or Ben?). Could be several things and Shaparon, you need to see a doctor. If it is a neuropathy, I have been taking pregabalin for several years. This just helps the brain to stop recognizing and reacting to (pain) messages from the hyper-sensitive nerves in the hands and feet. Like many, it is worse at night but after starting with itching 8 years ago the sharp stabs have only started in the last year or so. One thing that helps me is exercise that increases the blood flow to the feet. Fast walking works but not too much as this seems to make the pins and needles worse. Of course difficult to do the exercising in bed when the pain often is worse but flexing the knees and lower leg muscles has also helped.
 
I had a similar problem two years ago. I would get sudden sharp pains which could be crippling. Other times it would be an ache. After x-rays, scans, including a gallium scan, my doctor reckoned that I had a bone infection and prescribed a course of antibiotics over two months. Touch wood, the problem was cured.
 
Are the sides of that toenail curved downward? If they are curved downward enough to start curving underneath, you may need to see a podiatrist (foot doctor) about an ingrown toenail.

I've had the sides of my painful toenail removed lately. There was much less pain than before after this was done, and the podiatrist said it usually takes four to six weeks for the toe to heal after this is done.
 

Same here. I started getting these pains and burning AFTER dropping my levels to normal. Seems to be less frequent now.
 
@presidentholmes try and get R-ala supplement. Try it and if pain and any numbness eased then it could be neuropathy.
I buy mine on Amazon but even e-bay can do San make for cheaper but it is expensive. I find hugely beneficial but just had an op so stopped it 3mths before and soon to restart it.
Do you visit the UK or US?

I lived in lagos off and on for 10yrs due to matrimonial commitments. Unfortunately haven't visited since divorcing but a beautiful country. Lagoons are exceptional.
 

Hi Shapa,

As I know how the health system is in Nigeria (I am Nigerian) can I ask if you are at a Government hospital or at a private one. Also I can refer you to two specialist services that may help. Please send me a private message.
In the mean time, stop the swallow (eba/poundo/Amala). If you can also stop the red meat and switch to efo and fish. Bitter leaf will also benefit you.
Metformin is not effective in Nigeria if you still eat the same diet as it is carb overload.
 
I made alot with chicken and eggs, I remember. I took metformin religiously which I had prescribed under a private consultant in London.
Like I've said for a long time metformin was only trialled on a balanced diet. Even trials in London for PCOS treatment in 1990s.

Rice was drained and redrained to get as much starch out as possible. At least that's how I trained a few of the house girls.
Thinking now the men burned it off but not all. I limited myself to a heaped eggcup size as I was oblivious to low carb eating, then.
Rice doesn't help a diabetic's raising glucose.
I think, if you can process some items you need through customs from reputable carriers you could get low carb bread etc but it won't be cheap.
If not able to then shrink down bread, rice, plantains and beaned foods. Black eyed peas can still raise your blood glucose.
Stick with water based stews and soups without thickeners. In fact meat and soup without yam or ground rice would serve your diabetes better. Nuts are great but butter can be decievingly good as long as you walk/exercise it off.
I'm cooking with almond flour. Ground almonds basically. I make biscuits and pastries with it.
You can use your available foods to your advantage.
Don't fall into fruit is healthy patter either. Avoid bananas but try and get your potassium elsewhere.
Cereals are not great either but you may be more limited than most to replace your heavily carbed meals.
Are you always hungry?
 
Huh? Did you mean to address this to the thread starter? I only made a comment, I did not post a problem.
 
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