Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for a fractured big toe

by Dr. Clint Blick Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Usually, you can treat a broken toe by taping it to a neighboring toe. But if the fracture is severe — particularly if it involves your big toe — you may need a cast or even surgery to ensure proper healing.Nov 3, 2020

Medication

  • 🦶Do you have a broken big toe?🦶
  • We go over broken big toe signs & symptoms and the ABSOLUTE BEST Broken Big Toe TREATMENT!
  • We go over broken big toe taping, the best orthotics, and the best shoes for a broken big toe during recovery time.

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Procedures

What do I do for a broken toe?

  • Rest: means not putting excessive weight on the toe and not standing for too long.
  • Ice: beyond 72 hours ice is no longer beneficial. ...
  • Elevation: this means sitting or lying with your foot up, as high as is comfortable. ...

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Therapy

You can manage a fractured toe very safely yourself as long as it isn't your big toe, isn't crooked or out of line and there is no skin wound over or near the fracture. You should, however, see a doctor for your broken toe if: The pain becomes worse and isn't relieved by normal painkillers.

Self-care

You may want to write a list that includes:

  • Detailed descriptions of your symptoms
  • A short explanation of how the injury occurred
  • Information about other medical problems you've had
  • All the medications and dietary supplements you take
  • Questions you want to ask the doctor

See more

How do you treat a big toe fracture?

What is the treatment for a great toe fracture?

Should you go to the doctor for a broken toe?

How to splint a broken big toe?

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Can a big toe fracture heal on its own?

Most broken toes will heal on their own with proper care at home. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for complete healing.

Do they cast a fractured big toe?

A broken (fractured) big toe may be put in a cast to support it, as it takes much more of your weight than the other toes and is also needed for balance. The big toe is more likely than the smaller toes to need surgery in order to heal properly and to be as strong as it was before you broke it.

What happens if my big toe is fractured?

Broken Toe Symptoms Bruising of the skin around the toe may also be noticeable. The toe may not look normal, and it may even look bent or deformed if the broken bone is out of place. It may be difficult to walk because of the pain, especially if the big toe is fractured. Shoes may be painful to wear or feel too tight.

Will walking on a broken toe make it worse?

Osteoarthritis can develop from an untreated toe fracture Osteoarthritis typically develops from wear and tear of your joints over time, but walking on a fractured toe can speed up this process — although it may still take months, or even years, for arthritis to develop.

Do you get a boot for a broken toe?

Doctors will first recommend either a walking boot or a cast, along with a toe plate, for around 2–3 weeks. They will then recommend a rigid-sole shoe for 3–4 weeks.

How do you tell if toe is fractured or sprained?

While sprained toes usually still can be moved and flexed (albeit with pain), broken toes usually won't move at all (or at least not very much). Broken toes are also more likely to cause numbness or tingling, more likely to cause bleeding, and more likely to cause “unusual” symptoms like disorientation or faintness.

How do you tell if your big toe is broken or sprained?

The critical difference between a broken and sprained toe is in the mobility of the toe. A broken toe will have little to no movement while a sprained toe will still have some mobility, although it may be painful. If you're unable to move your toe, it may be broken.

Do I need to go to hospital for a broken toe?

Seek immediate medical care if you suspect an open fracture of the toe; if there is bleeding; cold, numb, or tingling sensation; if the toe appears deformed or is pointing in the wrong direction; or blue or gray color to the injured area. A broken toe is diagnosed with a medical examination, which may include X-rays.

What to do if you break your big toe?

If you think you’ve broken your big toe, seek medical attention right away . The toe needs to be set correctly so that it can heal properly.

Why is it important to take care of a broken big toe?

Though any break is painful, a broken big toe needs immediate attention due to its importance in your mobility.

What to do if your toe breaks?

Broken Toe Treatment. One response to a minor toe break is to create a “buddy toe” — immobilizing the toe by taping it to the adjoining toe. If the fracture is more severe, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe a cast or a hard-bottomed boot.

How long does it take for a broken big toe to heal?

Broken bones will usually recover in close to six weeks, though recovery times vary. Follow your provider’s advice to be sure that your broken big toe heals as quickly as possible. If your toe bone is severely broken or shattered, surgery may be required.

Can you go to an emergency room for a broken big toe?

You may consider visiting an emergency room for your broken big toe. However, there are other less expensive and faster treatment options. At FastMed Urgent Care, no appointments are required, and our goal is to have you seen within an hour. FastMed offices are equipped to deal with injuries that need immediate care, like a broken big toe.

How long does it take for a broken big toe to heal?

The broken toe healing time is not as long as many other fracture injuries, with most broken toes healed in the space of 4 to 6 weeks. This can be prolonged where there are complications but can also be decreased with the right treatment for broken big toe injuries, like physiotherapy.

What happens if you break your big toe?

Treatment for Broken Big Toe guide. Any fracture sustained to the foot can be a disabling injury, interrupting your daily routine and causing you to make sacrifices when it comes to work and your hobbies. Breaking your big toe is especially bad; the symptoms mean that it can be incredibly painful, and the area is likely to be bruised ...

Is There a Way I Could Safely Accelerate the Broken Toe Healing Time?

Were you aware that you could also qualify for full physiotherapy courses for your broken toe? Physiotherapy can help you to regain vital motion in your broken toe and assist in speeding up your recovery without compromising your health. You can call us today about eligibility for private physiotherapy treatment for broken big toe injuries. A call takes less than a minute, and our friendly team will answer any questions you may have about qualifying for physiotherapy treatment for free.

Can you recover from a broken big toe?

You don’t need to suffer alone during recovery when you could be eligible to receive expert private treatment for broken big toe injuries near your home. From recovery support in the form of medical supplies, to help with your wellbeing and rehabilitation in the form of orthopaedic services and physiotherapy, there are many wonderful medical services and options available.

Can you get free treatment for a broken big toe?

There are a lot of people in the UK that are still unaware that they could qualify for free private treatment for broken big toe injuries. If you have broken your big toe, they you could qualify for an extensive range of high-quality medical services to help you recover at a much quicker rate. The treatments are available for all types ...

Is it bad to break your big toe?

Breaking your big toe is especially bad; the symptoms mean that it can be incredibly painful, and the area is likely to be bruised and very tender. As with all injuries sustained to the feet, the right treatment and rehabilitation is essential for a quick, healthy, and full recovery.

Should I Go to Hospital for a Broken Toe?

It can be very difficult to identify some fractures, as there is little difference between a sprained big toe vs broken big toe when the fracture is minor. In some cases, trying to determine what does a broken pinky toe look like in compassion to a sprained pinky toe, can be near impossible without an x-ray.

How to prevent toe fractures?

Improve balance and posture. Regular physical activity, including strength training and balance exercises, can reduce the risk of slips and falls that result in toe fractures. Keep diabetes under control. People with diabetes are at risk of neuropathy, which damages the nerves in the feet.

What is a broken toe?

A broken toe is often the result of a painful and significant event, such as falling, stubbing the toe very hard, or dropping an object on the toe. These types of breaks are known as traumatic fractures. Traumatic fractures can range from minor to severe.

What color is a bruise on a traumatic fracture?

Many traumatic fractures feature a visible bruise that is dark purple, gray, or black.

What does it mean when a toe is displaced?

A displaced fracture means the broken bone has moved out of place. This may occur with more severe traumatic fractures. A displaced fracture in the toe can cause the toe to appear crooked. In some cases, a displaced fracture may break the skin and result in the bone protruding out of a wound.

Why does my toe crack?

Without the support of the muscle, the toe bone becomes vulnerable to pressure and impact. Too much stress on the bone eventually causes it to crack. Symptoms of a stress fracture in the toe include: pain that occurs after activities such as walking or running. pain that goes away with rest.

Why are toe bones important?

Although the bones in the toes are small, they play an essential role in walking and balance. Their crucial role in everyday life means that a broken toe can be inconvenient and extremely painful.

Why does walking on a broken toe hurt?

Walking on the broken toe too soon can delay or prevent healing. This may cause pain for months or even years after the injury. Arthritis in the affected joint. A person may develop arthritis if the bone is broken near a joint in the toe and is not correctly aligned before it heals.

What to do if your toe is broken?

Fortunately, if the toe is broken, a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon in Atlanta can help treat your toe. Here are the symptoms of a broken toe as well as how it should be treated.

How to heal a broken toe?

However, in more serious breaks, the doctor may recommend splinting the toe by taping the broken toe to the adjacent toe with medical tape to keep the toe from moving while it heals. A very serious break may require an orthopedic surgeon to perform surgery to reset the broken bone. Sometimes, a permanent pin is placed in the bone to ensure it heals properly. With a broken toe, it's important to allow yourself time for the toe to fully heal. Returning to regular activity too soon will prolong healing time and possibly cause more damage.

Why is it important to see a doctor for a broken toe?

Importance of Seeing a Doctor. Many people dismiss the seriousness of a broken toe because they assume there's not much an orthopedic foot specialist in Atlanta can do about a broken toe. However, ignoring a broken toe can lead to a chronic, painful condition called osteoarthritis, which causes pain in the joints.

Why do you put a pin in your toe?

Sometimes, a permanent pin is placed in the bone to ensure it heals properly. With a broken toe, it's important to allow yourself time for the toe to fully heal. Returning to regular activity too soon will prolong healing time and possibly cause more damage. « Back to News.

How to tell if a toe is broken?

As with a sprain, you'll have difficulty putting weight on the foot if you have a broken toe. If the break is severe, you'll probably be able to tell that the toe is broken because of the unnatural angle of the toe. You may have even heard a breaking sound when the injury occurred. If you originally suspect the toe is just sprained, you may wait a few days to see a doctor. If this is the case, the pain won't subside after a few days like it will with a sprain. The only way to determine if the toe is broken is to see a doctor who will usually order an x-ray .

Can a broken toe cause nerve damage?

In addition to future problems from the broken toe itself, you may have sustained nerve damage, especially if you have tingling or numbness in your toe. Visiting the doctor can help assess the severity of the break to determine what course of treatment will be best.

How to treat a broken toe?

How is a toe fracture treated? Buddy tape, elastic bandage, or a splint may be used to support your toe in its correct position. Buddy tape means your broken toe and the toe next to it are taped together. A support device such as a cane, crutches, walking boot, or hard-soled shoe may be needed.

What is a fractured toe?

A toe fracture is a break in a bone in your toe.

How is a toe fracture diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will examine you and ask about your injury. You may need the following tests:

How to get rid of a toe ache?

Apply ice on your toe for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel before you put it on your toe. Ice helps prevent tissue damage and decreases swelling and pain. Elevate your toe above the level of your heart as often as you can.

What is the best way to keep a bone in place?

Surgery may be needed if the bone is out of place or the toe joint is damaged. Wires, pins, or other hardware may be used to keep your bone in place while it heals.

Does your toe hurt after healing?

Your toe continues to hurt even after it has healed .

What Can a Doctor Do for a Broken Toe?

If you’re wondering, should I go to the hospital for a broken toe? Then the first step for many should be to consider the different symptoms of a sprained big toe vs broken big toe. When the injury is not too severe, it can be easy to mix up the symptoms between a broken big toe joint and a sprained big toe. The most common symptoms of a fractured big toe, include:

How long does it take for a big toe to heal?

Most minor fractured big toe injuries will heal in the space of 4 to 6 weeks. While in some cases, the answer to can you move a broken toe? Is yes, it is advised to rest the area to help with recovery.

Is Physiotherapy an Option for a Fractured Big Toe?

If your worried about how long it takes for a fractured big toe to heal, or even, how long does it take for a broken pinky toe to heal? Physiotherapy may be able to help. A course of physiotherapy can assist your body in regaining essential mobility after an accident, with exercises to work on flexibility and a safe and speedy recovery. Some people could be eligible to receive physiotherapy treatment for free. If you want to learn more about physiotherapy in your area and find out if you can receive treatment for free, contact us today.

Can a fractured big toe make it hard to walk?

Many of the symptoms can make it very hard to walk and will likely persist if the toe is fractured rather than simply sprained. A doctor will likely strap the big toe to the toe next to it and advise that you rest the fractured big toe.

Is it painful to break a big toe?

However, that doesn’t mean that a fractured big toe is painless, or that it doesn’t limit your mobility. Breaking either of the phalanx bones in your big toe can be very painful and, in some cases, quite problematic. In our fractured big toe recovery guide, we cover the main symptoms, common treatments, and the recovery time for a fractured big toe.

Could Private Treatment Help with My Fractured Big Toe?

Did you know that you could be eligible to receive further medical treatment for your fractured big toe in the form of free private treatment? Many people don’t realise it, but many private medical treatments are also available for free, to residents in the UK for all manner of fracture injuries, such as a broken 4th toe, or even a fractured neck. You can find out if you are eligible to receive free private treatment on top of your NHS treatment by giving our team a call today.

How is a broken big toe treated?

A broken (fractured) big toe may be put in a cast to support it, as it takes much more of your weight than the other toes and is also needed for balance.

What is the treatment for a badly broken toe?

If there is a lot of blood under the nail this may put pressure on the nail and make it very painful. Your accident and emergency department may make a small hole in the nail with a heated needle in order to allow the blood to escape, or they might remove the nail. However, they will be cautious if there is a break (fracture) beneath the nail, as if the nail is intact it will protect the break underneath from infection.

What causes a broken toe?

A broken (fractured) toe is an injury normally caused by either dropping a heavy object on the toe or stubbing the toe hard. Generally it takes quite a lot of force to break a bone. However, toe bones are more vulnerable because they are small bones and because they are on the edge of the body, so are more likely to be injured in the first place. A broken little toe, caused by stubbing it, may be particularly common due to its position.

What are the possible complications of a broken toe?

Well-healed broken (fractured) toes usually cause no ongoing problems. The possible complications, which are more likely to happen after severe breaks, include:

Why does my toe go numb?

The toe goes numb or tingly. This suggests pressure on, or damage to, the nerves to the toe (which run up the side of the toe, one on each side). The skin on the toes has turned blue (other than bruising) or grey and is cold to the touch when the other toes are not. The toe is bent at an angle or with an open wound.

What does it mean when your toe is broken?

A broken (fractured) toe is a fairly common injury which usually needs no specific treatment . It is most often caused by dropping a heavy object on to your foot or badly stubbing your toe.

Why are toe bones so vulnerable?

However, toe bones are more vulnerable because they are small bones and because they are on the edge of the body, so are more likely to be injured in the first place. A broken little toe, caused by stubbing it, may be particularly common due to its position.

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