I think I broke my toe

[amc80]

A few weeks ago I accidentally kicked the foot of the couch. Full impact with my second toe (pointer toe?) on my right foot. It swelled up pretty nicely and was bruised. Walking the day of and the day after was hard, I had to limp. This was three weeks ago. It still hurts to walk. I can usually pick things up off the ground with my toes...can't do that now, it hurts too much.

Is it worth getting it checked out? I know it's just a toe, but if it is broken, I 'd hate for it to heal incorrectly.

 

[JuneRose]

I would guess you have definitely broken your toe. I broke mine really badly a few years ago and it took FOREVER to heal... I did go to the doctors but they told me you can't actually do anything -you just have to rest and wait for it to heal. Don't strap it up -it might heal wonky -just wear confortable shoes and try not to walk as much (I know... easier said than done!!!)
Hope you feel better soon! It's no fun at all I know

 

[maccers]

I broke my middle toe a number of years ago. It was just a hairline fracture but it swelled up a lot and hurt like the dickens. The doctor could only advise me to tape it so that it had extra support and to try and keep off of it. It'll take a LONG time to heal because you're walking on it. As for not healing properly, unless you have a severe fracture (complete break or bone through skin), they probably won't do anything for you except recommend staying off it and taping it.

FYI, Just as my toe was feeling better, I re-broke it after hitting it going up the stairs, the pain was worse than the first time. Please be careful!

 

[amc80]

Ugh, great! So the only thing an x-ray would do would confirm it's broken, but there's nothing really to be done...hmm...

Thanks for the stories/advice. Glad to know I'm not the only klutz!

 

[iLander]

I would at least tape it to the little toe next to it, keep it from moving around too much.

Ugh! Sounds so horrible! You poor thing . . .

 

[Amber St. Clare]

I broke two toes kicking the metal ladder in my pool. They turned a lovely shade of purple and then a horrible shade of yelllow/green.

The dr. taped them up for a couple of weeks. It really didn't help because I did this 4 years ago and they still hurt me.

 

[JewelFreak]

I broke my little toe when I was about 16. Poor little thang got all huge & black, hurt like crazy & they didn't do anything either. Told me to wear a slipper to school for a week -- can you imagine a 16-yr-old girl being caught DEAD in slippers? No dice, doc. It wasn't quite healed when I dropped a family-size can of frozen orange juice on it. Klutz, more suffering.

Sorry, AMC, honey, not much to do but gimp around for a while. It does heal, but takes too long at it. Dust for you!

--- Laurie

 

[Dee*Jay]

I dropped a frozen chicken on my toe in high school. Hurt like a SOB!!!!! My mother is an EMT and basically said there was nothing to be done. Of course this was the morning of the prom, and of course I wore those damn high hells...YOWCH.

I feel for you, but I don't think you can really do much except stay off it if possible. And wine. Wine always helps.

 

[amc80]

I feel for you, but I don't think you can really do much except stay off it if possible. And wine. Wine always helps.

I believe that is the best Rx I've heard yet.

It wasn't quite healed when I dropped a family-size can of frozen orange juice on it. Klutz, more suffering.

OUCH!

It really didn't help because I did this 4 years ago and they still hurt me.

So I'm doomed?

Ugh! Sounds so horrible! You poor thing . . .

Thanks

OF COURSE this happened this month. See, January 1 marks the end of my personal allowance of "it's okay to be fat because I just had a baby" time. I was going to start running again. Guess the elliptical will have to do for now.

 

[zoebartlett]

I've done that too, Amc, and in the same way you did. Unfortunately, there's not much else you can do but tape it to help keep it from moving around too much. Also, I think my doctor suggested elevating my foot and trying to stay off it as much as possible. I know the second part's not too practical though. I hope it feels better soon!

 

[Enerchi]

I've done the same thing - stubbed it or slightly tripped and then hit my toe on something - and it hurts like H#LL... but you try and shake it off,till you catch a glimpse of this purple GROWTH at the end of your foot!!!

In the past - and I've done it 3 times in my life - my GP and the docs that I used to work with, just advised me if the skin was not punctured, to tape it to the neighbouring toe and wear fitted shoes. Not tight because of the extra pressure, and not sandals or slippers because of spreading and no support, but just normal, well fitting shoes to hold everything in place.

Think of the tape and a firm shoe as a "bra" for your toes!!

Hope your pain subsides - Tylenol, ice and elevation are your friends!

 

[TC1987]

Okay, well I will be the dissenting vote here. I think you should have an orthopedic look at it. I broke two toes, one of which was also dislocated. In my case, there was something the MD could do: x-ray the foot and put the bones back when they belonged, as well as tape the toes together to promote them healing straight and staying in joint or whatever they call it. Even so, that foot hurt for a solid year, and I had to go out and buy some shoes 1/2 size bigger to accommodate that foot for a while. Fortunately I could switch to sandals as soon as Spring rolled around. And I sure was thankful for that.

 

[JaneSmith]

Get an xray, you probably broke it but you don't know if it was the phalange (toe) or metatarsal (foot part), you could also have popped a ligament off a bone. You need to see an MD. You should wear an air cast if there is damage.

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

When I was a kid... probably about 9 or so. I was chasing my little brother around the house and accidentally took a corner too sharp, slipped and rammed my left pinky toe into the corner of the doorway. It hurt like hell! But then again, stubbing your toe ALWAYS hurts like hell. But the toe didn't get better. My mom took me to the doctor and I had a broken toe. It sucks... like most people said, there was nothing they could do but tape the toe to the toe next to it. It doesn't hurt anymore... but I swear it looks different than my other pinky toe!