Your feet play a fundamental role in operating a truck. They support the body’s weight when you are standing still, unloading a truck, or lifting a load. Weight has the tendency to end up balancing more towards the forefoot, consequently, the big toe receives more impact. If something goes wrong with your feet, including the big toe, it will be very difficult to carry a load.

If you experience throbbing pain that is difficult to ignore and which limits your activities, it is necessary to see a doctor to make a diagnosis. Several different possibilities can contribute to this pain, including but not limited to:

? Gout: It is a chronic disease where monosodium urate crystals are deposited in the metatarsophalangeal joint, leading to pain in the big toe. Common symptoms include a sensation of heat, redness, and pain in the area.

? Osteoarthritis: It usually occurs in other parts of the body, such as the knees, hips, and spine, but the joint of the feet can also be affected. There may also be degradation and rupture of the cartilage tissue around the ends of the bones. Common symptoms include inflammation, limitation of movement, and pain.

? Bunion: It is a bump that appears on the outside of the foot, more specifically in the joint of the big toe. It may be accompanied by irritation, redness, and pain when walking. It usually has to do with the way the foot moves, but it could also be related to other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

? Rheumatoid arthritis: A chronic inflammatory disorder that deteriorates the lining of the toe joints. This can result in painful swelling that can cause bone erosion and joint deformity. In the case of the big toe, the symptoms may include pain, inflammation, and a grinding sensation in the joint when walking or getting up.

? Fractures due to stress: When overloading the feet or any other part of the body due to high-intensity physical activity or repetitive movements, which is something very common when carrying loads, a small break in the bone may occur.

? Sprains: Truck drivers can take a wrong step while unloading a truck or injure themselves when transporting a load and end up straining their big toe joint. This often results in inflammation and pain.

Treatments for pain will depend on the cause and the severity of the damage caused. The most common treatments include:

? Rest

? Immobilization of the toe

? Ice application

? Analgesics and anti-inflammatories

? Wearing insoles

? Surgery (for severe cases that require it)

It is highly recommended that truck drivers maintain a healthy weight to avoid overloading their feet and visit their doctor to assess their case.