Should you see a doctor for a sprained toe?
Should I go to the hospital if I sprained my toe?
How long should a sprained toe last?
What happens if a sprained toe is left untreated?
How do I know if my toe injury is serious?
- the toe is very swollen.
- the pain is severe and does not go away after several hours.
- it is difficult to walk or to put weight on the foot.
- the toenail falls off or the area around it is very swollen.
- there are signs of infection around the toenail, such as itching, redness, and pus.
How do you tell if toe is fractured or sprained?
What is the fastest way to heal a sprained toe?
- Rest the injured joint as much as you can.
- Use a cold compress on the sprained toe for around 15 to 20 minutes. ...
- Keep your foot elevated while sitting or lying down.
- Take NSAID pain relievers to reduce swelling and improve pain.
Can you bend your toe if it's broken?
After the injury, pain, swelling, or stiffness can occur. 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.Aug 16, 2021
What does a sprained toe feel like?
While painful, your toe will still remain functional. This means you can still walk and put your body weight on it. However, you may also feel throbbing, tenderness, or increased pain while moving the injured toe.Jan 29, 2019
Will a sprained toe bruise?
How to heal a sprained toe?
The initial steps to treat and heal a sprained toe include the following: Rest: Take a break from the activity that caused the injury. Avoid walking on the injured foot. Ice: Apply an ice pack wrapped in cloth for 20 minutes several times a day. Remove if the skin becomes numb.
What is a toe sprain?
Toe sprains occur when ligaments in the toes have been overstretched or damaged. It is a common injury that results from stubbing the toe on the ground, getting the toe caught while walking, or hitting a nonyielding object with a kick. The pain, swelling, and bruising of a sprained toe can be difficult to differentiate from a toe fracture. A health care provider may order an x-ray or magnetic resolution imaging (MRI) to diagnose and treat a sprained toe correctly.
What joint is the big toe?
Except for the big toe, each toe has the following three joints: Metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP): Where the toe joins the rest of the foot. Proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP): The joint in the middle of the toe. Distal interphalangeal joint (DIP): The joint furthest from the foot. The big toe with only two bones has only a metatarsophalangeal ...
What is the metatarsophalangeal joint?
The metatarsophalangeal joint is a complex joint that must balance stability with flexibility. An injury to this joint, such as a sprained toe, can be challenging to treat and to heal.
What is a turf toe?
Turf toe is a sprain of the main joint in the big toe. It happens when the toe is hyperextended and there is an injury to any of the structures making up the plantar complex. Toe positions include the following: Neutral position: The toes are in line with the rest of the foot.
How to reduce swelling in big toe?
Compression: Wrap an elastic bandage around the injured foot to decrease swelling. Elevation: Elevate the foot above the heart to further decrease swelling. Anti-inflammatory medications: Ibuprofen may provide some relief for the symptoms. Taping: Taping the big toe to other toes to restrict movement.
How long to immobilize foot?
Immobilize the foot using a walking boot or a cast for several weeks. Gradually step down treatment to the recommendations given for a grade 2 and then grade 1 injury.
Can a toe sprain be treated at home?
In most cases, a toe sprain will get better with proper home care. Mild sprains that have not torn the ligament usually respond well to standard home treatment, such as the RICE technique. This treatment involves:
How long does it take for a sprained toe to heal?
A sprained toe can take several weeks to heal completely. It is important to avoid putting strain on the joint during this time and to follow a healthcare professional’s advice. Most people have a good outcome from a sprained toe and can go back to their regular activities after it heals.
What is the difference between a grade 1 and grade 2 sprain?
Grade 1: Mild sprain. A mild sprain involves stretching of the ligament and possibly some microscopic tears. Symptoms usually include some tenderness and mild swelling. Grade 2: Moderate sprain. The ligament has a partial tear. The swelling and tenderness may be more noticeable and painful than in a grade 1 sprain.
What is a grade 2 sprain?
A mild sprain involves stretching of the ligament and possibly some microscopic tears. Symptoms usually include some tenderness and mild swelling. Grade 2: Moderate sprain. The ligament has a partial tear. The swelling and tenderness may be more noticeable and painful than in a grade 1 sprain.
Can you move a sprained toe?
Sprained toes are often tender and painful, but it is still possible to move them. The toes contain joints that enable a person to walk, run, jump, and do other activities. Bands of tissues called ligaments surround each toe joint.
What is it called when you tear a ligament?
Damaging or tearing the ligament is known as a sprain. Broken toes and sprained toes often have similar causes and symptoms. However, a broken toe does not involve overstretching or damaging ligaments. Instead, a toe bone becomes cracked or fractured.
How do you know if you have a sprained toe?
The symptoms of a sprained toe typically include: pain in the toe, especially when walking. difficulty moving the toe. swelling. bruising. throbbing or tenderness. The extent of the pain, swelling, and other symptoms will depend on the severity of the sprain.
How to tell if you have a toe sprain?
Symptoms of a toe sprain include: 1 Toe pain 2 Difficulty moving or bending the toe 3 Tenderness 4 Swelling 5 Bruising or discoloration 6 Tenderness
Who is Lance Silverman?
Dr. Lance Silverman is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon, with specialty training in the management of conditions of the ankle and foot. Treating Minnesotans with Ankle & Foot problems since 2004. Read More…
How long does it take for a sprained toe to heal?
In general, here’s what you can expect: Grade I Sprained Toe - 1-2 weeks. Grade II Sprained Toe - 2-4 weeks. Grade III Sprained Toe - 2-6 weeks.
Can you sprain your toe?
This can happen when one toe gets stuck on something while the rest of the foot moves forward. Ouch. Certainly, anyone can get a sprained toe but athletes are a bit more prone.
How to tell if you have a toe sprain?
The main symptoms of a sprained toe you are likely to experience include: 1 pain throughout the toe that may even extend into the rest of the foot or ankle 2 tenderness 3 swelling 4 bruising 5 joint instability 6 trouble moving the toe
What is a toe sprain?
So, a toe sprain happens when a ligament in the toe is torn or stretched. This is different from a broken toe which only involves the bone. Let’s review some anatomy.
How to diagnose a sprain?
A doctor can diagnose your sprain by taking a history of what led to the injury, ask which movements make the pain worse, and determine whether or not the joint is stable. He or she will better be able to pinpoint the site and extent of the sprain and recommend appropriate treatment.
Can a big toe be sprained?
Yes, indeed. However, it is not very strong and is the most susceptible toe of the foot to injury. All of the toes (except for the big toe) has these three joints: The big toe only contains the metatarsophalangeal joint and interphalangeal joints. So, really, any of these joints can become sprained.
Where is the metatarsophalangeal joint?
The metatarsophalangeal joint, where your toe meets your foot. The proximal interphalangeal joint, which is in the middle of your toe. The distal phalangeal joint, which is closest to the tip of your toe. The big toe only contains the metatarsophalangeal joint and interphalangeal joints. So, really, any of these joints can become sprained.
Is a big toe sprain a frequent pathology?
Although the sprain of the big toe is not a frequent pathology, it should be taken into account, especially in athletes .
What is the function of the foot?
The foot functions as a rigid platform for posture and to absorb shock that occurs during gait. At the same time, it is a flexible lever that allows push when walking or running.
Why do my toes sprain?
Sprained toe mainly happens when there is continued stress. It can occur while running, performing gymnastics, ballet dancing, frequent jumping, or any activity which creates too much stress on your toes.
Can a broken toe get worse?
A broken toe is a severe scenario that can get worse if you don’t give adequate care.
How to help a broken toe?
If the injury is more serious, a number of strategies can help with the pain: Try gently taping a broken toe to a nearby toe. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce pain and inflammation. Try rest, ice, compression, and elevation ( the RICE method ).
How to help toe pain?
When the pain does not go away, it may mean that there is a more serious injury. Although many toe injuries heal on their own, prompt medical care can speed healing and help with the pain. Last medically reviewed on August 5, 2019.
Can a stubbed toe hurt?
Summary. A stubbed toe may seem to be a minor injury. However, it can be intensely painful. Stubbing a toe can even cause breaks, sprains, broken nails, and infections. The pain of a stubbed toe usually subsides after a few minutes.
What does it mean when your toe is stubbed?
A stubbed toe is the name for any injury that happens when a person suddenly hits or jams their toe. Some common causes include accidentally kicking the toe into a wall or doorframe, tripping over a toy on the floor, or catching the toe on a gate or other object.
Why do my toes hurt so bad?
Stubbed toes can hurt a lot, even when the injury is not serious. This is because there are many nerves in the toe, including two nerves on either side. There is little fat to cushion the toes, which can intensify the pain and increase the risk of injuries such as bone bruises and fractures.
How painful is a broken toe?
Although many fractures heal on their own, a doctor may need to surgically repair a severe fracture. Symptoms of a broken toe include: swelling around the toe and sometimes into the foot.
How to tell if a toe is broken?
Symptoms of a broken toe include: swelling around the toe and sometimes into the foot. discoloration, such as black or blue bruising, around the toe. a change in the shape of the toe, if a bone is out of place. trouble moving the toe. significant pain when walking or putting weight on the toe.
What to do if you have a fractured toe?
The uninjured toe acts like a splint. Always put some gauze or felt in between toes before taping them together to prevent skin irritation. Wearing a stiff-bottomed shoe.
What to take for a broken toe?
You can usually manage pain from a broken toe with over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Your doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers if the pain from your fracture is more severe.
How to heal a broken bone?
To heal, a broken bone must be immobilized so that its ends can knit back together. Examples include: 1 Buddy taping. If you have a simple fracture in any of your smaller toes, your doctor may tape the injured toe to its neighboring toe. The uninjured toe acts like a splint. Always put some gauze or felt in between toes before taping them together to prevent skin irritation. 2 Wearing a stiff-bottomed shoe. Your doctor might prescribe a post-surgical shoe that has a stiff bottom and a soft top that closes with strips of fabric fastener. This can prevent your toe from flexing and provide more room to accommodate the swelling. 3 Casting. If the fragments of your broken toe won't stay snugly together, you may need a walking cast.
What to check for in a physical exam?
During the physical exam, your doctor will check for tender areas in your toes. Your doctor will also check the skin around your injury to make sure it's intact and that the toe is still receiving adequate blood flow and nerve signals.
What is the best medicine for a broken toe?
You can usually manage pain from a broken toe with over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Your doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers if the pain from your fracture is more severe.
How to reduce swelling in foot?
Elevation and ice can help reduce swelling and pain. Prop your foot up when possible so that your injury is higher than your heart. If you use ice, wrap it in a towel so that it doesn't make direct contact with your skin, and only apply it for about 15 minutes at a time, taking a break of at least 20 minutes between icing sessions.
How to write a medical list?
You may want to write a list that includes: 1 Detailed descriptions of your symptoms 2 A short explanation of how the injury occurred 3 Information about other medical problems you've had 4 All the medications and dietary supplements you take 5 Questions you want to ask the doctor
