The small bones in the toes are susceptible to breaking when hit.Most broken toes are called stress orhairline fractures, which means a small crack that's not serious enough to break the bones or the skin.Less often, a toe can be crushed so that the bones are shattered that they stick out through the skin.If you don't know the severity of your toe injury, you will be stuck with different treatment protocols.
Step 1: You can schedule an appointment with your doctor.
If you experience sudden toe pain that doesn't go away after a few days, you should schedule an appointment with your family physician or go to the emergency room of your local hospital.Your doctor will examine your toe and foot, ask questions about how you injured it, and maybe even take X-rays in order to determine the extent of the injury.If you have a serious problem with your toe, you may need a referral to a doctor with more specialized training.The most common symptoms of a broken toe include pain, swelling, and sometimes internal bleeding.Running or jumping is nearly impossible without pain.Emergency room or urgent care physicians are some of the healthcare professionals who could help diagnose and/or treat broken toes.
Step 2: See a doctor.
Small stress fractures, bone chips and contusions are not considered serious medical conditions, but severely crushed toes or displaced compound fractures often require surgical intervention, especially if the big toe is involved.Medical specialists such as an orthopedist can help assess the seriousness of your injury and recommend appropriate treatment.Sometimes broken toes can be related to diseases and conditions that affect and weaken bone, so the medical specialists need to consider these when examining your toe.If you have a broken toe, specialists may use x-rays, bone scans,MRI,CT scans andultrasound to help diagnose it.A broken toe is usually the result of dropping something heavy on the foot.
Step 3: Understand the treatments for fractured bones.
Simple stress fractures can be treated at home if you get the doctor to explain the diagnosis and give you various treatment options.A mangled, bent, or deformed toe is a sign of a more serious injury and should be left to trained professionals.The biggest and smallest toes are fractured more often.Joint dislocations can cause crooked toes, but physical examination and X-rays will distinguish between the two conditions.
Step 4: Use the R.I.C.E.
R.I.C.E. is the most effective treatment protocol for minor injuries.It stands for, and.Rest is the first step in addressing your foot injury.Cold therapy should be applied to the broken toe as soon as possible in order to stop internal bleeding and reduce inflammation, if you can get your leg elevated on a chair or stack of pillows.Ice should be applied for 15 minutes every hour, then reduced as the pain and swelling go down over the course of a few days.Compressing the ice against your foot will help control the inflammation.Don't leave the compression bandage on for more than 15 minutes at a time because it could cause more damage to your foot.You can slowly resume athletic activities when the broken toes heal well, usually within four to six weeks.
Step 5: Take your medication over the counter.
Anti-inflammatories can be prescribed by your doctor to help combat the inflammation and pain associated with your toe injury.They shouldn't be taken for more than two weeks at a time because they are hard on your body.
Step 6: It's a good idea to tape your toes.
If you have a broken toe, you can tape it to an uninjured one to help realign it.Thoroughly clean your toes and feet with alcohol wipes and then use strong medical-grade tape that's waterproof so it can survive showering.The tape needs to be changed every few days.If you want to prevent skin irritation, you should put something between your toes.To make a simple, homemade splint, place trimmed Popsicle sticks on both sides of your toes before taping them together.If you can't tape your own toes, ask for help from your doctor, specialist or physical therapist.
Step 7: For four to six weeks wear comfortable shoes.
Immediately after your toe injury, switch to comfortable-fitting shoes that have plenty of room in the toes cap in order to accommodate the swelling and taping.If you want to avoid wearing high heels for a few months, choose hard-soled, supportive and sturdy shoes over more trendy types.If the inflammation is excessive, supportive open-toed sandals may be used, but remember that they don't offer any toe protection.
Step 8: Reduction surgery is recommended.
Reduction is a process that will be used if the broken bone fragments don't align together.Depending on the number and positioning of the bone fragments, reduction can be done without surgery.A local anesthetic is injected into the toe.If the skin is broken due to trauma, stitches will be needed to close the wound.Time is of the essence because of potential blood loss and the risk of local tissue death due to lack of oxygen.Until anesthesia is administered in the operating room, strong painkillers may be prescribed.Sometimes pins or screws are needed to hold the bones in place while they heal.Reduction is also used with any fractured object with significant displacement.
Step 9: You should wear a splint.
A splint is put in place to support and protect your broken toe while it heals.If you have to wear a supportive compression boot, you'll probably need crutches for two weeks or so.Maximizing walking and resting with an injured foot is still highly recommended.Although splints provide support, they don't provide much protection, so be careful not tobump your toe while walking.Make sure your diet is rich in minerals and vitamins during the bone-healing phase in order to promote bone strength.
Step 10: Get a cast.
If more than one toe is broken or other bones of the forefoot are injured, your doctor might apply a plaster or fiberglass cast to your foot.If the fragments won't stay together, short-leg walking casts are recommended.Once repositioned, broken bones are protected from further trauma or excessive pressure.It takes six to eight weeks for severely broken toes to heal, depending on the location and extent of the injury.Your foot may need some rehabilitation after a long time in a cast.After a week or two, your doctor may request another set of X-rays to make sure the bones are healed properly.
Step 11: There are signs of an infectious disease.
If the skin is broken near your injured toe, you are at higher risk of developing an infection within the bone or the surrounding tissues.Infections are very tender to the touch.Sometimes they leak the white blood cells and smell bad.A two-week course of oral antibiotics may be recommended by your doctor if you had an open compound fracture.If there is an infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics.If you were injured by puncturing or lacerating your skin, your doctor may recommend a tetanus shot.
Step 12: Wear shoes with shoe inserts.
There are shoe inserts that support the arch of the foot and promote better walking and running.If your big toe is involved, you may have a negative effect on your foot and gait.The risk of problems in other joints such as the ankle, knee and hips can be reduced with the help of orthotics.There's always a risk of arthritis in surrounding joints, but orthotics can mitigate that risk.
Step 13: Look for physical therapy.
The range of motion or strength in your foot may be reduced after the broken bone is healed.If you want to improve your range of motion, balance, coordination and strength, ask your doctor for a referral to a sports medicine specialist, who can offer a variety of tailored strengthening exercises, stretches and therapies.Other health professionals can help rehabilitate your toe/foot.