I went for a surgical assessment and this is what I got. The Dr says the shooting pain I get up my foot from the large toe joint is nerve pain not arthritic pain. He says that surgery could make the nerve pain worse while improving the arthritic pain. Says he needs to see emg report that was done for my back. I have chronic back problems and have to take nerve medication for pain in my legs. Ok so my problem is this. The pain I get up from the joint is sharp shooting and awakens me from my sleep. So yes I believe that pain is nerve pain but what I am not so sure of is that the origin is actually due to back problems. I have had many back attacks which gave me big toe pain and I know that pain but this pain is not like my back sciatica pain. Also this type of pain can be brought on by wearing shoes that constrict my foot. Common sense tells me this isn't my back. Constricting your foot does not bring on nerve pain originating in the spine. The Dr who I have a large amount of respect for says that the arthritis should be better in a supportive type of shoe not worse. Has anyone here had experience like this? I believe perhaps in error that the nerve irritation if located in the foot itself and something has happened to a nerve located in the foot not the spine. I am really disappointed but will see my pain management guy who is a Neurologist and get his input. Anyone else ever faced this problem.