Pain in the big toe is usually either from the muscle under the toe (flexor hallucis longus or brevis) or from the joint.  Muscle pain is subsequent of overuse, tightness, adaptive shortening, fatigue, inflammation or spasm.

Problem: overuse, tightness, adaptive shortening, fatigue, inflammation, spasm

Solution: decrease training volume for a temporary period of time, stretch the soft tissue as well as perform joint mobility exercises at the knee, foot and ankle, soft tissue manipulation, rest or strengthen what is getting fatigued during activity, ice/NSAIDS, soft tissue manipulation

About 50% of the above solutions can be performed on your own at home.  The other 50% requires a skilled physical therapist to make changes.  

Joint pain at the big toe is usually due to overuse; many months to several years of pushing-off movements like football, tennis, volleyball, running, sprinting.  This is what we call a classic “turf toe.”  Joint pain usually indicates there’s some arthritis, or early degenerative changes in the  younger athlete.  You want to traction the joint, separate the space.  To do this pull at the last ½ inch of your big toe to the point of feeling a relieving stretch or traction.  This will alleviate the compressive-type aching pain.  

Problem: joint compression, arthritis/degenerative changes, inflammation, cartilage thinning

Solution: traction the joint by pulling on the end of the big toe and slow release it, manage arthritic pain with physical therapy and consistent exercise, ice/NSAIDS, joint injections/non-surgical ortho treatment options like PRP

Again, depending on the degree of debilitating toe pain and how much it is interfering with normal performance, training or an active lifestyle, more than likely you will get great results from going to formal physical therapy.  It’s a combination of using techniques to traction/decompress the joint with corrective exercise and mechanics.