Medication
A broken foot or toe may take 4 to 6 weeks to fully heal. However, in some cases, it could take longer. Recovering individuals should follow the RICE principle along with any specific instructions from their doctor. Follow-up X-rays or other scans to ensure proper healing and alignment may be needed.
Procedures
- Rinse the mouth with warm water or saltwater
- Apply pressure to stop the bleeding
- Use an ice pack to help reduce any swelling
- Take acetaminophen for pain relief (do not take aspirin, which could increase the bleeding)
- Avoid chewing on the affected side of the mouth
- Avoid hard foods like hard candy
Therapy
Here are some tips on healing a broken toe, from the team at Entire Podiatry:
- Use ice to reduce pain, inflammation and swelling as soon as possible after sustaining a toe injury. ...
- Keep off your affected foot as much as possible and avoid putting pressure on it. ...
- Consider taking an anti-inflammatory pain medication such as Nurofen. ...
Self-care
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.
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How long does it take to recover from a broken foot?
What is the best treatment for a broken tooth?
What is the healing time for a broken toe?
Should you go to the doctor for a broken toe?
Should I go to the doctor for a broken toe?
If you think you broke your toe, it's best to have your doctor look at it. Even though you can often treat it yourself, a broken toe can sometimes lead to more serious problems, like infection, arthritis, or long-term foot pain.
How do you know if you have broken your toe?
How to Tell if a Toe is Broken: Symptoms & IdentificationSevere bruising.Intense & throbbing pain.Swelling.Deformity.Difficulty walking.Toenail discoloration.Crooked & misshapen appearance of the toe.
What can be done for a broken toe?
Broken Toe TreatmentPrevent Swelling and Further Injury. Stay off the foot as much as possible. Avoid movement or pressure that causes pain. Apply ice up to 20 minutes at a time. ... Get Help. If you have severe pain, can't walk, the toe looks bent or deformed, or the pain lasts for a long time, see a doctor.Follow Up.
Can you still walk on a broken toe?
Medical care for a broken toe For those cases, doctors usually recommend wearing a fracture shoe. “It's not a big boot. You still have mobility, but the hard sole doesn't bend. It allows you to walk around without putting pressure on your toes,” explains Dr.
What happens if you leave a broken toe untreated?
A fractured toe that's left untreated can lead to infection You're at increased risk of developing a bone infection if you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or a compromised or weakened immune system. Symptoms that suggest your toe has developed a bone infection include: Fatigue.
How do you tell if toe is broken 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.
Can a broken toe 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. Most pain and swelling will go away within a few days to a week.
How serious is 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: Failed healing of the bones: this can either mean the bones heal in a crooked state or that they don't heal together at all.
What would a broken toe look like?
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.
Should you wrap a broken toe at night?
Never tape the toes together skin-to-skin. Your broken toe may need to be buddy-taped for 2 to 4 weeks to heal. Rest and protect your toe. Do not walk on it until you can do so without too much pain.
Do you need a boot for a broken toe?
When a toe is dislocated, the ligaments that hold the toe bone in place at the joint are torn. In order to allow those ligaments to heal you will need to wear a walking boot for several weeks.
What shoes should I wear with a broken toe?
Because the pressure could cause you pain, or even delay your healing. Now, some people can get away with wearing regular shoes. But, if this is the case for your injury, you should choose a low heeled or tennis shoe. Something that's stable and comfortable to help your healing.
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.
How to prevent toe break?
Injuries and accidents are not always avoidable, but the following steps may help minimize the risk of breaking a toe: Avoid wearing non-supportive shoes, such as flip-flops. Flip-flops offer little support to the foot, which can cause unnecessary strain on the muscles and bones.
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 are the symptoms of a broken toe?
Symptoms of a broken toe include: pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking.
What to do if your toe is bent?
For pain, take acetaminophen ( Tylenol) or ibuprofen ( Advil, Motrin ). 2. Get Help. If you have severe pain, can’t walk, the toe looks bent or deformed, or the pain lasts for a long time, see a doctor. 3.
How to treat a swollen foot after a foot injury?
Apply ice up to 20 minutes at a time. Wrap it in a towel; do not apply directly to skin. Keep the foot elevated as often as possible, especially the first 2 days after injury, to help control pain and swelling. For pain, take acetaminophen ( Tylenol) or ibuprofen ( Advil, Motrin ). 2.
How to treat a broken toe?
If your broken (fractured) toe is not displaced, it is not your big toe and the skin is not broken then you may be able to manage it at home yourself, as long as none of the conditions above apply. Rest, ice and elevation are recommended for initial management to help reduce bruising, swelling and pain, and therefore shorten recovery time.
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 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 to do if your toe is swollen?
Ibuprofen gel applied to the toe may be helpful if the skin isn't broken. Protection: wear sturdy shoes with stiff soles, that don't squash or bend the toe. You can begin normal activity once the swelling has gone down and you're able to wear a protective shoe comfortably.
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.
How to fix crooked toe?
If your toe is crooked, particularly if the fracture is through one of the toe joints, your toe may need to be put back into line and held with metal pins. You will be given local anaesthetic injections to numb the area - normally one on each side of the toe at the base. Doctors may then be able to realign the toe without operating on it.
Why do you cast a broken 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.
How to help a broken toe heal?
Carefully try to put more pressure on your broken toe each day to see how it’s recovering. Take any slight improvements in pain and discomfort as signs that your injury is healing.
What happens if your toe is broken?
A broken toe that doesn’t heal properly could lead to osteoarthritis, a painful condition that causes chronic pain in one or more joints. Your doctor will examine your toe and ask for your medical history. Tell your doctor as many details as you can ...
What happens if you stubbed your toe hard?
If you’ve ever stubbed your toe hard, the immediate, severe pain can leave you wondering if your toe is broken. In many cases, the injury winds up being a sprain. This is painful, but it means the bone itself is still intact. If the toe bone breaks into one or more pieces, then you have a broken toe. Learning to recognize the symptoms and treatment ...
Why does my toe break?
Causes. The two most common causes of a broken toe are stubbing it into something hard or having something heavy land on it. Going barefoot is a major risk factor, especially if you’re walking in the dark or in an unfamiliar environment.
What is the difference between a sprain and a break?
One other key difference between a break and a sprain is the location of the pain. Usually a break will hurt right where the bone has fractured. With a sprain, the pain may be felt in a more general area around the toe.
How long does it take for a toe to heal after a toe injury?
You’ll likely need to avoid running, playing sports, or walking long distances for one to two months after your injury. Recovery time can be longer if the break is in one of the metatarsals.
How long does it take to walk after a toe fracture?
With a walking cast, you should be able to walk and resume most non-strenuous activities within a week or two after injuring your toe. The pain should diminish gradually if the bone is healing properly. If you feel any pain in your broken toe, stop the activity that’s causing the pain and tell your doctor.
How to treat a broken toe?
Usually, you can treat a broken toe by taping it to a neighboring toe.
How long does it take for a broken toe to heal?
Most broken toes heal well, usually within four to six weeks. Sometimes, a broken toe may become infected or increase the risk of osteoarthritis in that toe in the future.
How to tell if your toe is broken?
Signs and symptoms of a broken toe include: 1 Pain 2 Swelling 3 Discoloration
What happens if you cut your toe?
If the skin is cut near your injured toe, you are at higher risk of developing an infection in the bone. Osteoarthritis. This wear-and-tear type of arthritis is more likely to occur when the fracture extends into one of the toe joints. By Mayo Clinic Staff.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What to do if you think your toe is broken?
If you suspect that your toe is broken, it’s smart to get evaluated by an orthopedic specialist. “We recommend that people who think they have broken a toe be seen to verify the diagnosis and make sure nothing needs to be done,” Dr. Russ said.
How long does it take for a broken toe to heal?
“If you break your toe, or even stub it, it can take a really long time to become pain-free — up to six months after the break, even when the bone has healed,” he said. “It can swell and be very sore, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong.”
What are the symptoms of a broken toe?
Symptoms of a broken toe include severe pain, bruising, swelling, discoloration of the toenail, difficulty walking, and a crooked appearance. We caught up with Summit Orthopedics foot and ankle surgeon Samuel Russ, M.D., to learn more about broken toes and the treatment options available.
How to break a big toe?
The most common ways to break your big toe are by dropping something on it or stubbing it, most often by kicking something. Because the big toe is a key part of how you balance on your feet when walking, proper treatment is important.
Can a broken big toe be fused?
More severe breaks may require surgery so that they will heal properly. “For a very severe break, we might choose to fuse the joints of the big toe,” resulting in more stability but less flexibility in the toe, Dr. Russ said.
Is the big toe the most important to walk?
The first thing to know, according to Dr. Russ, is that not all toes are created equal. “The big toe is the most important for bearing weight and walking,” he said. “The rest of the toes are much less important.”
