Can You Get a Sore Toe When Hiking? How To Treat It

Yes, you can get a sore toe when hiking. For starters, during hikes with lengthy, steep descents, your toes are put under a lot of strain. Your toe touches your shoe with every step, and the thousands of steps you take destroy the sensitive nerves in your toes. When sensory nerves are injured, they deprive an area of feeling. They also cause the surrounding region to swell. It is frequently accompanied by toe discomfort.

Second, after 2-3 days of long-distance walking, your feet are most likely swollen. As a result, your shoes are more squished around your feet, making it easier for your toes to collide with them.

Why do you get sore toes when hiking?

• Hikers Toenail: If you’re planning a hike with a lot of elevation gain, hikers’ toenail is a must-have. When going downhill, heavy pressure on the tips of your feet causes it. You may simply avoid it by knowing how to knot your laces properly.
• Ingrown Toenail: Improperly fitting hiking boots are the most common cause of ingrown toenails. Make sure your shoes aren’t too big or too tiny for your feet, and that your laces are correctly tightened. Otherwise, when you walk, the tips of your toes will grind against the front of your shoes, causing ingrown toenails.
• Swelling (Inflammation): There are a lot of various explanations for general swelling and inflammation. Excess salt, ill-fitting footwear, a lack of physical condition, and generally straining your body beyond its natural limitations are all common culprits.
• Blisters: Changing your socks and footwear helps avoid most blisters.
• Calluses: You’re going to have to deal with calluses sooner or later. Excessive rubbing and skin build-up are to blame.

How do you treat sore toes from hiking?

Apply ice

Foot discomfort might be relieved with a cold pack or a DIY ice pack. This alternative may be especially beneficial for persons who suffer from discomfort in their foot joints as a result of trauma, infection, inflammation, arthritis, bursitis, or gout.

However, ice should not be applied directly to the skin. Wrap a bag of ice or frozen veggies in a small towel or cloth to make an ice pack. After that, the user can place the pack on the troublesome foot for 15–20 minutes at a time.

Place a cold or frozen water bottle on the floor and roll the sore portion of the foot over it. This is especially beneficial for persons who suffer from plantar fasciitis.

Use different socks

Foot discomfort can be caused by ill-fitting or uncomfortable shoes. Switching to low-heeled, comfy shoes, especially during pregnancy, can assist with arch discomfort and swollen feet.

Wearing broad shoes with a thick, cushioned sole can help those with plantar fasciitis, which causes discomfort at the bottom of the heel. A padded insole may also be beneficial.

Put your feet up

An easy technique to relieve hurting, fatigued, or swollen feet is to sit with your feet elevated on a footstool or chair.

Excess fluid can build up in the feet during pregnancy, causing them to swell. It may be beneficial to elevate the feet as much as possible.

Try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) include aspirin and ibuprofen (NSAIDs). They are beneficial for foot discomfort caused by arthritis, bursitis, and gout because they decrease pain and reduce inflammation. They can also assist if your feet are swollen or weary.

Many drugstores sell nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) over the counter. They should be consumed with meals or a glass of milk. They should also refrain from consuming alcohol while on these drugs.

Ryan Anderson

Hey, I am the founder of Outside Origin! I love hiking in my spare time and have gone to various different hikes. You can check out our about us section to learn more about what our team and I do over at Outside Origin.