Question
Hello, I have been recently experiencing pain in my big toe. I don't recall any specific incident that may have caused an injury, but I do exercise daily. I typically walk on the treadmill at a 15% incline for about a hour or day, or I use the elliptical machine or upright stationary bike. The pain appears intermittently. Sometimes at the nail of my big toe (left foot), sometimes it's the big toe itself. Sometimes the pain is just at/before the joint of the big toe.  The pain is quite severe for about 30 seconds, then fades away. I noticed today that while I can easily spread my toes apart, making spaces between them, in my right foot...I am not able to do this with my left foot. I can bend my toes downward with no problem. There is no swelling, no discoloration or sign of injury, the left big toe LOOKS normal. Do you think just resting the foot/toe is adequate? I don't see how I could have cut a tendon. Might it be an overuse injury? Thank you.

Answer
It could be an overuse injury, a sprain, such as turf toe, or limitation because of trauma.  You should visit with a podiatrist who will x-ray it and assess the motion.  Chances are, you'll end up with an insole or custom orthotic to redistribute pressures.  I do agree that it is unlikely that a tendon has been cut.  
All the best,
Andrew Schneider, DPM

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