Is My Toe Broken?
- posted: Sep. 01, 2022
Do you suspect that you might have broken your toe? You could very well be dealing with a broken toe if you notice pain, stiffness or swelling, or if you suddenly have trouble walking. Something as simple as stubbing your toe has the ability to fracture it. You may have broken your toe if you are experiencing any of these symptoms,
- Swelling around the toe
- Discolorations such as bruising
- Changes in the shape or alignment of the toe
- Pain when moving the toe
- Pain when walking or putting weight on the toe
- Pain that intensifies hours after injury
While a broken toe can certainly be painful it’s often not considered an urgent matter. A broken toe will only require urgent medical attention if,
- You are dealing with severe pain
- The toe is sticking out at an angle
- Your child has sustained an injury to the toe
- There is a loss of sensation in the toe
- You heard a snap or popping sound at the moment of injury
- You think you’ve broken your big toe
If you are dealing with any of these problems, then it’s important to call your podiatrist right away for proper treatment. In some cases, our podiatry team may need to reset the broken bone. If you aren’t dealing with any of these issues, you can often manage your condition on your own with ample rest and home care. Ways to treat your broken toe include,
- Keeping the injured foot elevated above your heart to reduce swelling
- Staying off your feet and resting as much as possible
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications
- Wear properly fitted, supportive shoes with no heel and a wide toe box
- Taping your broken toe together with the adjacent toe for more support
Most broken toes will recover fully in about 4-6 weeks; however, you should start to see symptoms improving after only a few days. You should call your podiatrist if you don’t see a reduction in pain and swelling after 2-3 days of home care, or if you are still experiencing pain or difficulty walking after six weeks.
If you are concerned about a broken toe or other foot problems that are causing you pain or affecting your ability to walk, it’s important to see a podiatrist as soon as possible. Call your podiatrist today.
- posted: Sep. 01, 2022
Do you suspect that you might have broken your toe? You could very well be dealing with a broken toe if you notice pain, stiffness or swelling, or if you suddenly have trouble walking. Something as simple as stubbing your toe has the ability to fracture it. You may have broken your toe if you are experiencing any of these symptoms,
- Swelling around the toe
- Discolorations such as bruising
- Changes in the shape or alignment of the toe
- Pain when moving the toe
- Pain when walking or putting weight on the toe
- Pain that intensifies hours after injury
While a broken toe can certainly be painful it’s often not considered an urgent matter. A broken toe will only require urgent medical attention if,
- You are dealing with severe pain
- The toe is sticking out at an angle
- Your child has sustained an injury to the toe
- There is a loss of sensation in the toe
- You heard a snap or popping sound at the moment of injury
- You think you’ve broken your big toe
If you are dealing with any of these problems, then it’s important to call your podiatrist right away for proper treatment. In some cases, our podiatry team may need to reset the broken bone. If you aren’t dealing with any of these issues, you can often manage your condition on your own with ample rest and home care. Ways to treat your broken toe include,
- Keeping the injured foot elevated above your heart to reduce swelling
- Staying off your feet and resting as much as possible
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications
- Wear properly fitted, supportive shoes with no heel and a wide toe box
- Taping your broken toe together with the adjacent toe for more support
Most broken toes will recover fully in about 4-6 weeks; however, you should start to see symptoms improving after only a few days. You should call your podiatrist if you don’t see a reduction in pain and swelling after 2-3 days of home care, or if you are still experiencing pain or difficulty walking after six weeks.
If you are concerned about a broken toe or other foot problems that are causing you pain or affecting your ability to walk, it’s important to see a podiatrist as soon as possible. Call your podiatrist today.