Medication
- 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
Procedures
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. ...
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
- Most swollen, bruised and painful toes are not broken.
- X-rays are only needed for severe pain and severe injuries.
- If the big toe might be broken, it should be seen by a doctor. ...
- A broken great toe is not urgent. ...
- The treatment is the same whether or not the toe is broken.
- The treatment of all broken toes is pain medicine and comfortable footwear.
See more
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?
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.
What can a doctor do for a broken toe?
If the broken fragments of your bone don't fit snugly together, your doctor may need to manipulate the pieces back into their proper positions (reduction). Doctors can usually do this without cutting open your skin. Ice or an injected anesthetic is used to numb your toe.
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 is the best way to treat a broken toe?
Symptom ReliefRest. Stop doing any physical activity that causes pain, and keep your foot immobile whenever possible.For the first 24 hours, ice your toe for 20 minutes every hour you are awake, then 2 to 3 times a day. ... Keep your foot raised to help keep swelling down.Take pain medicine if necessary.
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 I know if my toe is broken or just bruised?
How do I know if my toe is broken or just bruised? A bruise on the bone can feel similar to a break, Dr. King says. “The most obvious sign that it's a fracture is if the painful toe is pointing in a different direction than your other toes.
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.
What's 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.
Can you break a toe by stubbing it?
Stubbing a toe can even cause breaks, sprains, broken nails, and infections. The pain of a stubbed toe usually subsides after a few minutes. In some cases, however, the impact could break the toe or the toenail, causing intense pain that may get worse over hours or days.
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.
How long does a broken toe heal?
Healing times for broken toes will no doubt vary from person to person. However, the average healing time for a big toe fracture will be around 5–7 weeks. For fractures in smaller toes, it will be around 4–6 weeks.
How do you wrap a broken toe?
This treatment is called buddy taping.Put a small piece of cotton or gauze between the toes that are taped together. ... Using as little tape as necessary, loosely tape the broken toe to the toe next to it.If the toes are taped too tightly it can cause additional swelling and may cut off circulation to the injured toe.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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 do you know if you broke your toe?
Symptoms. Throbbing pain in the toe is the first sign that it may be broken. You may also hear the bone break at the time of injury. A broken bone, also called a fracture, may also cause swelling at the break. If you’ve broken your toe, the skin near the injury may looked bruised or temporarily change color. You’ll also have difficulty putting any ...
What is the best way to fix a broken toe?
Casting, if the toe has become dislocated. Wearing podiatrist-provided stiff-soled shoes to support the fracture. Pain & anti-inflammatory medication.
How to tell if your toe is broken?
How to Tell if a Toe is Broken: Symptoms & Identification. Broken toes are some of the most common breaks of the foot and are frequently marked by symptoms like: Severe bruising. Intense & throbbing pain. Swelling.
What is the most common toe injury?
Out of the five toes (also known as digits of the feet) the pinky toe is the most commonly broken toe with the fracture often occurring at the base of the toe.
What causes a toe to break?
Some of the most common causes of broken toes include: Overuse. Stubbing or banging your toe against something hard. Rolling your toe. Dropping a hard and/or heavy object on your toe. Wearing poor footwear. Osteoporosis.
Why do athletes break their toes?
These breaks are often referred to as “turf toe.” Turf toe is caused by excessive and repetitive pushing off of the big toe when making explosive movements (e.g. running & jumping), and can vary from a sprain to a broken bone with ligament damage. If you’re experiencing severe pain from your big toe after athletic or strenuous activity you may need to be examined for a break.
What causes a fractured toe?
There are several ways to categorize your toe fractures: Stress fracture – caused by repetitive activity / overuse. Non-displaced – bones are cracked but have not broken apart. Displaced – ends of the broken toe have separated completely or partially from the rest of the bone. Open fractures – skin is broken and the bone is protruding.
What are the bones on the toes called?
Your toes make up a portion of your foot referred to as the forefoot. Four of your toes are comprised of 3 bones called phalanges, and two joints. The big toe, however, is made up of only two bones and one joint. The three smaller bones, or phalanges, of the toes are the: Proximal – bone closest to the foot. Middle.
What to do if your toe is broken?
If more than one toe is broken or other bones of the forefoot are injured (such as the metatarsals), then your doctor might apply a plaster or fiberglass cast to your entire foot . Short-leg walking casts are also recommended if the fragments won't stay snugly together.
How to treat a toe injury?
2. Take over-the-counter medications. Your doctor may recommend anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin, or regular analgesics (painkillers) such as acetaminophen to help combat the inflammation and pain associated with your toe injury. [6]
What does it mean when your toe is bent?
In contrast, a mangled, bent, or deformed toe is usually a sign of a more serious fracture and best left to trained professionals. The smallest toe (5th) and the biggest (1st) are fractured more often than the other toes.
What is a broken toe called?
Most broken toes are called "stress" or "hairline" fractures, which means a small surface crack that's not serious enough to misalign the bones or break the skin's surface.
How long does it take for a broken toe to heal?
Following surgery, and especially with the help of a cast, severely broken toes take six to eight weeks to heal, depending on the location and extent of the injury.
How to treat sudden toe pain?
If you develop sudden toe pain from some type of trauma and it doesn't fade away after a few days, then schedule an appointment with your family physician or go to the emergency room of your local hospital or an urgent care clinic that has X-ray services if symptoms are severe.
What is the best way to diagnose a broken toe?
X-rays, bone scans, MRI, CT scan and ultrasound are modalities that specialists may use to help diagnose your broken toe. Broken toes are usually the result of dropping something heavy on the foot or "stubbing" a toe against something hard and immovable.
What to do if you have a broken big toe?
Breaks that cause an open wound. Injuries that involve the big toe. If you have a severe injury, you should seek medical help. Injuries that involve the big toe may need a cast or splint to heal. In rare cases, tiny pieces of bone can break off and keep the bone from healing properly. In this case, you may need surgery.
How long does a broken toe last?
Bruising that can last up to 2 weeks. Stiffness. If your toe is crooked after the injury, the bone may be out of place and may need to be straightened in order to heal properly. This may be done either with or without surgery. Most broken toes will heal on their own with proper care at home.
How long does it take for a broken toenail to heal?
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. If something was dropped on the toe, the area under the toenail can bruise. This will go away in time with nail growth.
How to stop swelling in toes?
Rest. Stop doing any physical activity that causes pain, and keep your foot immobile whenever possible. For the first 24 hours, ice your toe for 20 minutes every hour you are awake, then 2 to 3 times a day. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Keep your foot raised to help keep swelling down.
How to keep toes from getting wet?
Wrap tape around the injured toe and the toe next to it. This helps keep your toe stable. Place a small wad of cotton between your toes to prevent tissues from becoming too moist. Change the cotton daily.
How many bones are in a toe?
Each toe is made up of 2 or 3 small bones. These bones are small and fragile. They can break after you stub your toe or drop something heavy on it.
How long to follow up after a sprain?
Follow up with your provider 1 to 2 weeks after your injury. If the injury is severe, your provider may want to see you more than once. X-rays may be taken.
What to do if your toe is hurting?
If so, try icing the injury and taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, Dr. King says. However, if severe pain or swelling persists, see a doctor. Also, observe your injured toe carefully, Dr. King says. If it has a deep cut or wound, your bone might be exposed to air and so should be evaluated by a physician.
How long does a broken toe take to heal?
You’ll have much less pain after four weeks and should be walking normally again after eight weeks, Dr. King says. At 12 weeks , your broken toe should be fully healed. You can get back to regularly exercising, including running and jumping.
How do I know if my toe is broken or just bruised?
King says. “The most obvious sign that it’s a fracture is if the painful toe is pointing in a different direction than your other toes. Sometimes, it’s obvious that one toe is pushed out to the side, but it can also be a subtle twisting that turns the toe up a little bit.”
What to do if your toe bone is at an angle?
If your toe bone is at an incorrect angle, your doctor may numb the toe and then straighten it immediately. Afterward, you may be required to wear a walking boot.
How long do you have to wear a walking boot after a fracture?
If the break is a simple fracture, in which the parts of your bone are still lined up properly, your doctor will probably put you in a walking boot for about three weeks , Dr. King says. The walking boot keeps your toes immobile so the bones can knit back together in alignment.
How to tell if you broke your toe?
Other clues to a broken toe include swelling, discoloration and bruising. If your toe is at a different angle than the toe on the other side — and it wasn’t before your injury — seek medical help right away, Dr. King says. Advertising Policy.
Can you tap a broken toe?
Taping a suspect ed broken toe can help alleviate pain if the break is simple and the bones are aligned. However, this won’t help the break to heal correctly, so it’s important to see a doctor, Dr. King says. If you had a bad break, taping your toes could actually make things worse, he says. Advertising Policy.
