Hi I am a 36 yr. old female, I am 5' 1 and weigh about 100 lbs, I workout atleast 5-6 days a week - weightlifting. I am a stay at home mom so I am usually in my barefeet. My problem is I have an extreme shooting pain go through my big toe on my right foot. It can last from a second to maybe a minute. Sometimes it will come and go and sometimes it will happen one right after another. I try rubbing it and squeezing it, bending it, anything to make the pain go away and it doesn't. My husband says it doesn't feel right when I had him try to rub it. I was told it could be gout. Any help would be great. It has been gone on for a year at the least and the pain is intense. Thanks for any information.

Do your toe have full range of motion. base of referance when the big toe is flat on the floor with the foot or inline wih the foot that is 0 degrees of flexion or extention. You should be able to bend back (extend) your toe atleast 20 degree ( 1 inch) without resistance or hit a stopping point. If you can't their could be a proble with the joint. Also bend back the toe a far as you can comfortably and compare the two if their is a significant differeance then than could indicate a joint problem.

See your doctor to rule out gout.


Hope you feel better soon

Yes I have full range of motion. That doesn't hurt at all, trying to do that. When it is in the stage of pain if you touch the top of my toe and rub on it , it feels kinda spongey. I am not sure how else to describe it. There is no swelling, heat, redness, itchiness, nothing but a sharp pain. Those are all symptoms of gout. I looked up gout and it says it is something men who are overweight have, not women. And I am not overweight nor do I have high bloodpressure or any of the other symptoms, other than the sharp pain. Thanks for your input. I guess I will have to breakdown and see a DR.

Thanks again!

Let us know what you find out.

Thank you

Dear Jennifer
Gout is classified under the family of rheumatological conditions because, it can result in arthritic changes to the affected joints. When a patient has gout, they are usually in excruciating pain. Gout commonly affects the big toe joint of the foot and is associated with symptoms such as redness, swelling and pain.
Sharp shooting pain can be secondary to a nerve entrapment, trauma, poor shoe gear, inflammation, peripheral neuropathy, restless leg syndrome, nutritional deficiencies, medication, or neurological conditions which can be congenital or aquired.
For an accurate diagnosis you will need to see a Podiatrist.

Good-luck and thank-you for contacting foot.com,
SBarlizo, DPM, C Ped
foot.com expert